Antioxidant status in vegetarians and nonvegetarians in Bratislava region (Slovakia).

The level of antioxidant vitamins (C, A, E) and the activity of a selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase as indicators of antioxidant status and lipid peroxides as markers of oxidative damage were investigated in blood of 196 healthy middle-aged inhabitants of Bratislava region. The group consisted of 78 vegearians (32 men and 46 women) and 118 nonvegetarians (61 men and 57 women). The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the diet on the antioxidant status in vegetarians and nonvegetarians. The most important differences were found in the level of ascorbic acid and in the activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase; the ascorbic acid in serum was significantly higher, while the selenium and the activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase was lower both in plasma and erythrocytes of vegetarians.