Effect of an antioxidant functional food beverage on exercise-induced oxidative stress: A long-term and large-scale clinical intervention study

The efficacy of long-term intake of a novel functional food supplement Funciona™ containing vitamins and juiced fruits was evaluated in order to assess the net effect of physical activity and antioxidant potentials in healthy older adult population. The long-term (2 years) and large-scale (400 older adult subjects) interventional study was based on both moderate-intensity exercise practice and concurrent supplementation. Sustained exercise-induced oxidative stress as reflected in significantly increased blood thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) (+15%), protein carbonyl groups (PC) (+18%) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) (+112%) concentrations, and leukocyte 8-OHdG contents (23%). Exercise decreased the reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) molar ratio (−43%) and plasma vitamin C levels (−22%). Supplementation with Funciona™ was significant in preventing oxidative damage to lipid, protein and DNA, and normalizing blood GSSG, GSH/GSSG and vitamin C levels. Thus daily intake of the antioxidant functional beverage counteracts the exercise-induced oxidative stress in free-living older subjects, and might be necessary to restore impaired antioxidant balance due long-term regular exercise.