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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #66420
Title: EFFECT OF LOW CAROTENE DIET ON MALONDIALDEHYDE (MDA) CONCENTRATION

Author
item DIXON, ZISCA - FLORIDA INTER UNIVERSITY
item SHIE, FENG-SHIUN - UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
item WARDEN, BEVERLY - FLORIDA INTER UNIVERSITY
item Burri, Betty

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The effect of a low carotene diet (60 ug beta-carotene) on the malondialdehyde concentrations of nine premenopausal women was evaluated. Subjects lived on the metabolic research unit of the WHNRC, where diet, exercise and other activities were controlled. Five control subjects received the equivalent of 0.5 mg beta-carotene while four study subjects received no additional beta-carotene during days 1 to 60 (period 1). All subjects received 0.5 mg/day beta-carotene during days 60 to 120 period 2), plus 3 capsules/day Mixed Carotene supplement (Neo-Life company of America) during days 100 to 120 (period 3). Plasma MDA concentrations were analyzed among study periods and between groups. For the study subjects, mean levels of MDA decreased by 0.057, 0.058 and 0.15 umol/L (between periods 1 to 2, periods 2 to 3, and periods 1 to 3; p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively). Subjects who were supplemented during the entire study (control subjects) showed no significant difference in MDA levels. Mean MDA levels compared between groups showed a significant difference (p<0.05) only during carotene depletion. These findings provide evidence to support the beneficial effects of beta-carotene in preventing lipid peroxidation in the cells. Further studies are needed to identify the exact mechanism by which beta-carotene prevents lipid peroxidation.