Open Access Research

Supplementation of a western diet with golden kiwifruits (Actinidia chinensis var.'Hort 16A':) effects on biomarkers of oxidation damage and antioxidant protection

Asgeir Brevik1*, Isabel Gaivão2, Tirill Medin3, Aud Jørgenesen3, Anita Piasek4, Johanna Elilasson5, Anette Karlsen3, Rune Blomhoff3, Turid Veggan3, Asim K Duttaroy3 and Andrew R Collins3

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Chemical Toxicology, Division of Environmental Medicine, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O.Box 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 OSLO, Norway

2 Genetic and Biotechnology Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001 Vila Real Codex, Portugal

3 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, PB 1046 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

4 Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland

5 TATAA Biocenter AB, Odinsgatan 28, 411 03 Göteborg, Sweden

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Nutrition Journal 2011, 10:54 doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-54

Published: 18 May 2011

Abstract

Background

The health positive effects of diets high in fruits and vegetables are generally not replicated in supplementation trials with isolated antioxidants and vitamins, and as a consequence the emphasis of chronic disease prevention has shifted to whole foods and whole food products.

Methods

We carried out a human intervention trial with the golden kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis, measuring markers of antioxidant status, DNA stability, plasma lipids, and platelet aggregation. Our hypothesis was that supplementation of a normal diet with kiwifruits would have an effect on biomarkers of oxidative status. Healthy volunteers supplemented a normal diet with either one or two golden kiwifruits per day in a cross-over study lasting 2 × 4 weeks. Plasma levels of vitamin C, and carotenoids, and the ferric reducing activity of plasma (FRAP) were measured. Malondialdehyde was assessed as a biomarker of lipid oxidation. Effects on DNA damage in circulating lymphocytes were estimated using the comet assay with enzyme modification to measure specific lesions; another modification allowed estimation of DNA repair.

Results

Plasma vitamin C increased after supplementation as did resistance towards H2O2-induced DNA damage. Purine oxidation in lymphocyte DNA decreased significantly after one kiwifruit per day, pyrimidine oxidation decreased after two fruits per day. Neither DNA base excision nor nucleotide excision repair was influenced by kiwifruit consumption. Malondialdehyde was not affected, but plasma triglycerides decreased. Whole blood platelet aggregation was decreased by kiwifruit supplementation.

Conclusion

Golden kiwifruit consumption strengthens resistance towards endogenous oxidative damage.