Stress proteins as biomarkers of oxidative stress: Effects of antioxidant supplements

The potential benefits to health of the supply of antioxidants, either thro ugh dietary intake or as supplements, is equivocal. There is a need to deve lop biomarkers that may act as monitors of cellular defense as influenced b y antioxidant status. Thirty-two individuals participated in the project an d 19 received supplements for 5 weeks in the form of a capsule containing a defined mixture of antioxidants. No change was noted in levels of superoxi de dismutase and glutathione peroxidase following antioxidant supplementati on. On the other hand, increase in total antioxidant status and decrease in malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl formation, and erythrocyte hemolysis wer e noted. In lymphocytes isolated from individuals receiving antioxidant sup plements and subjected to a heat shock in the presence of the free radical generator 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane)-dihydrochloride, enhanced synthesi s of heat shock proteins hsp 105, hsp 90, hsp 70, and hsp 40 by contrast wi th decreased synthesis of heme oxygenase HO-1 (hsp 32) were noted. We concl ude that antioxidant status modulates the synthesis of stress proteins. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.