In primary and secondary prevention of diseases resulted from antioxidant failure and changes towards oxidation processes (autoimmunological/allergic diseases, especially asthma) intake of exogenic antioxidants from food is crucial. The aim of the study was to estimate diet antioxidant capacity (measured as DWA values) among healthy inhabitants of Krakow and assess which food products had the main contribution in DAI, in order to give the indications for people suffering from bronchial asthma.
Material and methods: The study group consisted of 478 persons: 350 of healthy inhabitants of Krakow and two specific subpopulations: 48 men with high level of physical activity and 80 students from Jagiellonian University and Technical Academy. Dietary antioxidant index (DWA) was investigated on the basis of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). In the FFQ 145 food items were classified into groups such as fruit and dried fruits, vegetables and vegetable oils, sweets, grains and cereal-based products, mixed dishes, fresh herbs, spices and beverages. The total antioxidant capacity of food intake was measured using the method developed by Benzi. This method exploits the ability of the sample to reduce ferricions to ferrousions (FRAP).
Results: The total antioxidant capacity (measured as DWA) of diet of 225 examined women was higher than calculated from 253 men and statistically significant (82.7 Mmol/l vs 49.1 Mmol/l). Moreover FRAP values of particular groups of food products were higher in case of women than men. The highest contribution in total DWA value had fruits and subsequently: cereals, juices and beverages. Unfortunately, examined people consumed to low amount of vegetables, fresh herbs and spices, which have well-documented antioxidant property.
Conclusions: DWA values of healthy individuals presented in this study may be treated as a low reference value of antioxidant capacity for diets of asthmatic people. Enrichment in natural antioxidants diets of asthmatic individuals (mainly men), should become an important element of primary and secondary prophylaxis in bronchial asthma.