M M Boancă1, H A Colosi2, E C Crăciun3. 1. Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Haţieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 2. Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, 'Iuliu Haţieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 3. Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Haţieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have shown that vitamin B12 scavenges superoxide anion as effectively as superoxide dismutase (SOD), and has a key role in the defense against oxidative stress. The status of vitamin B12 is suboptimal in a substantial number of vegans and even vegetarians. We therefore evaluated in lacto-ovo vegetarians (LOVs) who did not take vitamin B12 supplements the impact of the duration of this diet on the vitamin B12 status, the erythrocyte SOD activity and the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: The study group included 38 non-vegetarians and 48 LOVs divided, according to the duration of this diet, into two subgroups: LOV1 (2-10 years) and LOV2 (11-29 years). The erythrocyte SOD activity and the serum concentrations of vitamin B12 and MDA were assayed. RESULTS: In LOVs, the mean serum vitamin B12 concentration, the erythrocyte SOD activity and the mean serum MDA concentration were statistically significantly lower that in non-vegetarians. No significant association between the serum vitamin B12 and MDA concentrations and the duration of the LOV diet were observed. A significant inverse linear correlation between SOD activity and the duration of adherence to LOV diet was observed in LOVs. CONCLUSIONS: The duration of LOV diet has impact only on SOD activity. Further researches, both in vitro and in vivo, are necessary to understand the underlying molecular mechanism.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have shown that vitamin B12 scavenges superoxide anion as effectively as superoxide dismutase (SOD), and has a key role in the defense against oxidative stress. The status of vitamin B12 is suboptimal in a substantial number of vegans and even vegetarians. We therefore evaluated in lacto-ovo vegetarians (LOVs) who did not take vitamin B12 supplements the impact of the duration of this diet on the vitamin B12 status, the erythrocyte SOD activity and the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: The study group included 38 non-vegetarians and 48 LOVs divided, according to the duration of this diet, into two subgroups: LOV1 (2-10 years) and LOV2 (11-29 years). The erythrocyte SOD activity and the serum concentrations of vitamin B12 and MDA were assayed. RESULTS: In LOVs, the mean serum vitamin B12 concentration, the erythrocyte SOD activity and the mean serum MDA concentration were statistically significantly lower that in non-vegetarians. No significant association between the serum vitamin B12 and MDA concentrations and the duration of the LOV diet were observed. A significant inverse linear correlation between SOD activity and the duration of adherence to LOV diet was observed in LOVs. CONCLUSIONS: The duration of LOV diet has impact only on SOD activity. Further researches, both in vitro and in vivo, are necessary to understand the underlying molecular mechanism.
Authors: G Ali Qureshi; Aftab A Qureshi; Bika Ram Devrajani; M A Chippa; S Ali Syed Journal: CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets Date: 2008-02 Impact factor: 4.388
Authors: Edward Suarez-Moreira; June Yun; Catherine S Birch; John H H Williams; Andrew McCaddon; Nicola E Brasch Journal: J Am Chem Soc Date: 2009-10-28 Impact factor: 15.419