Effect of dietary antioxidant vitamin intake on anti-oxidative capacity in school-age children

ObjectiveTo study the effect of vitamin A,C,E intake on antioxidant capacity in children.MethodsTotally 382 students of 1-6 grades from 3 primary schools were investigated on general state of health,5 days diet and 1 month food frequency.Serum vitamin,antioxidant enzymes and peroxidation product were determined after informed the consent to their parents.The intakes were transformed with nutrition calculator V1.6.The data were analyzed with SPSS11.5 softw are.ResultsWhen vitamin A intake was less than 80% and more than 60% of the reference nutrient intake(RNI), the level of serum vitamin A was lower than normal level and malondialdehyde(MDA)was higher than normal level.When carotenoids intake was less than 440μg retinal equivalent(RE),the level of serum vitamin A was lower than normal level and MDA was higher than normal level.When carotenoids intake was less than 260μg RE,serum beta-carotene was higher than normal level.When vitamin C intake was less than 100% of RNI or 120% of RNI,serum vitamin C and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)were lower than the normal.When vitamin C intake was less than 140% of RNI,MDA was higher than normal level.When vitamin E intake was less than 100% of adequate intake(AI),the level of serum vitamin E was lower than normal level.When vitamin E intake was less than 120% of RNI,superoxide dismutase(SOD)was under normal level and MDA was higher than normal level.ConclusionChildren's antioxidant capacity are normal when their intakes of vitamin A>80% of RNI,carotenoids>440μg RE,vitamin C>140% of RNI,and vitamin E>120% of AI.