Plasma antioxidant capacity of HIV-seropositive and healthy subjects during long-term ingestion of fruit juices or a fruit-vegetable-concentrate containing antioxidant polyphenols

Objective. To investigate whether antioxidant polyphenols from fruit juices or a fruit-vegetable-concentrate increase the plasma antioxidant capacity in HIV-infected and healthy subjects. Design: Twenty-three HIV-seropositive and 18 seronegative adults were rando mized to ingest either I I of fruit juice or 30 ml fruit-vegetable-concentr ate per day over 16 weeks in addition to their normal Western diet. Methods: Plasma antioxidant capacity was determined as Trolox equivalent an tioxidant capacity (TEAC) at baseline, after 1 and 16 weeks of intervention , and after a 6 week washout. Results: There was no difference in plasma antioxidant capacity between HIV -infected and healthy subjects at baseline (P = 0.1). After 16 weeks of int ervention TEAC increased in HIV-positive subjects with both types of polyph enol supplementation (juice, 1.38 +/- 0.07 to 1.42 +/- 0.04 nM, P = 0.034; concentrate, 1.40 +/- 0.09 to 1.46 +/- 0.08 mM, P = 0.025). TEAC was not al tered by either type of supplementation in HIV-seronegative subjects. Conclusion: Plasma antioxidant capacity can be increased by long-term inges tion of polyphenols from fruit juices or fruit-vegetable-concentrate in HIV -seropositive but not in HIV-seronegative subjects. Sponsorship: This study was supported by a grant and Cellagon aurum (R) fro m FIG Berner GmbH, Altenholz, and fruit juices from Eckes Granini GmbH & Co . KG, Neder-Olm. Descriptors: polyphenols; HIV; plasma antioxidant capacity; fruit juice; an tioxidants; oxidative stress.