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Changes in Serum Retinol, -Tocopherol, Vitamin C, Carotenoids, Zinc and Selenium after Micronutrient Supplementation during Alcohol Rehabilitation

INSERM U525 and Centre de Médecine Préventive, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy (S.G., G.S., S.V., B.H.), Paris, FRANCE
Centre d’alcoologie, CHRU (P.P., F.P.), Paris, FRANCE
Laboratoire Thiols et fonctions cellulaires, Faculté de Pharmacie (P.L.), Paris, FRANCE
Nancy, Laboratoire de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine (J.-C.G.), Paris, FRANCE
Dijon, Département de Biologie Intégrée (J.A.), Paris, FRANCE
Grenoble, INSERM U 557, ISTNA/CNAM (S.H.), Paris, FRANCE

Address correspondence to: Bernard Herbeth, PhD, INSERM U525 and Centre de Médecine Préventive, 2 avenue Jacques Parisot, F54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, FRANCE. Bernard.Herbeth{at}cmp.u-nancy.fr

Objective: To test the effect of a 21-day supplementation with moderate doses of antioxidant nutrients on biochemical indicators of vitamin, carotenoid and trace element levels in alcohol-dependent patients during a program of alcohol rehabilitation.

Design: A randomized double-blind trial was performed comparing two groups receiving daily either a combination of micronutrients (beta-carotene: 6 mg, vitamin C: 120 mg, vitamin E: 30 mg, zinc: 20 mg, selenium: 100 µg) or a placebo.

Subjects: 106 alcohol-dependent patients 20 to 60 years of age without severe liver disease, hospitalized for a 21-day rehabilitation program.

Measure of Outcome: Vitamin C, retinol, -tocopherol, zeaxanthin/lutein, ß-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, - and ß-carotene, zinc and selenium were measured in serum, initially and after supplementation.

Results: (1) In the placebo group, after 21 days of rehabilitation, serum concentrations of vitamin C and all five carotenoids significantly increased, whereas retinol and -tocopherol concentrations decreased; zinc and selenium levels were unaffected. (2) At the end of the hospital stay, serum indicators were significantly improved in the supplement group as compared to the placebo group for vitamin C, -tocopherol, ß-carotene, zinc and selenium; conversely, lycopene changes were higher in the placebo group than in supplement group. (3) Of the serum antioxidants measured at entrance, only vitamin C was significantly depleted in heavy smokers, and, after the supplementation period, vitamin C was efficiently repleted in this later group.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that a short-term supplementation with physiological doses of antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids and trace elements during alcohol rehabilitation clearly improves micronutrient status indicators. Heavy smokers in particular seem to respond to vitamin C supplementation.

Key words: supplementation, serum, retinol, -tocopherol, ß-carotene, carotenoids, vitamin C, zinc, selenium, alcohol rehabilitation

Abbreviations: ROS = reactive oxygen species • AST = aspartate aminotransferase • ALT = alanine aminotransferase • GGT = -glutamyltransferase • BMI = body mass index • RBP = retinol binding protein • MCV = mean corpuscular volume • Apo = apolipoprotein