ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN VEGETARIANS AND NONVEGETARIANS IN BRATISLAVA REGION (SLOVAKIA)

The level of antioxidant vitamins (C, A, E) and the activity of a sele nium-dependent glutathione peroxidase as indicators of antioxidant sta tus and lipid peroxides as markers of oxidative damage were investigat ed in blood of 196 healthy middle-aged inhabitants of Bratislava regio n. The group consisted of 78 vegearians (32 men and 46 women) and 118 nonvegetarians (61 men and 57 women). The aim of the study was to comp are the effect of the diet on the antioxidant status in vegetarians an d nonvegetarians. The most important differences were found in the lev el of ascorbic acid and in the activity of selenium-dependent glutathi one peroxidase; the ascorbic acid in serum was significantly higher, w hile the selenium and the activity of selenium-dependent glutathione p eroxidase was lower both in plasma and erythrocytes of vegetarians.