Veggies + fruit versus = level of supplement

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Here is a pdf-available paper on veggies + fruit is better than an

equal level of supplement.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;79(6):1060-1072.

The 6-a-day study: effects of fruit and vegetables on markers of

oxidative stress and antioxidative defense in healthy nonsmokers.

BACKGROUND: Fruit and vegetables contain both nutritive and

nonnutritive factors that might contribute to redox (antioxidant and

prooxidant) actions. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relative

influence of nutritive and nonnutritive factors in fruit and

vegetables on oxidative damage and enzymatic defense. DESIGN: A 25-d

intervention study with complete control of dietary intake was

performed in 43 healthy male and female nonsmokers who were randomly

assigned to 1 of 3 groups. In addition to a basic diet devoid of

fruit and vegetables, the fruit and vegetables (Fruveg) group

received 600 g fruit and vegetables/d; the placebo group received a

placebo pill, and the supplement group received a vitamin pill

designed to contain vitamins and minerals corresponding to those in

600 g fruit and vegetables. Biomarkers of oxidative damage to protein

and lipids and of antioxidant nutrients and defense enzymes were

determined before and during intervention. RESULTS: Plasma lipid

oxidation lag times increased during intervention in the Fruveg and

supplement groups, and the increase was significantly higher in the

former. Plasma protein carbonyl formation at lysine residues also

increased in both of these groups. Glutathione peroxidase activity

increased in the Fruveg group only. Other markers of oxidative

damage, oxidative capacity, or antioxidant defense were largely

unaffected by the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Fruit and vegetables

increase erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity and resistance

of plasma lipoproteins to oxidation more efficiently than do the

vitamins and minerals that fruit and vegetables are known to contain.

Plasma protein carbonyl formation at lysine residues increases

because of the vitamins and minerals in fruit and vegetables.

PMID: 15159237 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Cheers, Alan Pater