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Antioxidant activity in human faeces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

M. Garsetti ,
N. Pellegrini ,
C. Baggio  and
F. Brighenti
M. Garsetti
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Milan, Via Celoria, 2-20133 Milan, Italy
N. Pellegrini
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, University of Parma, Via Volturno, 39-43100 Parma, Italy
C. Baggio
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Milan, Via Celoria, 2-20133 Milan, Italy
F. Brighenti*
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, University of Parma, Via Volturno, 39-43100 Parma, Italy
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Furio Brighenti, fax +39 05219 03832, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Scarcely-absorbed antioxidants might reach the large bowel and exhibit antioxidant activity, opposing the action of reactive O species by bacterial and cellular metabolism and thus contributing to protection from oxidative damage-induced gastrointestinal diseases. This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity in the faeces of a group of healthy subjects on a freely-selected diet, and to look for possible associations with the intake of some macro- and micronutrients and food groups. Fourteen subjects recorded their food intake three times for a period of 2 d, each time collecting all the faeces passed during the next 24 h. Total antioxidant activity (TAA; mmol 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8 tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox)/kg) of faecal suspensions was measured using the 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical cation (ABTS•+) decolorisation assay. The average TAA value of faeces was 26·6 (SD 10·2) MMOL TROLOX/KG WET FAECES (RANGE 7·5–50·5). THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ANTIOXIDANT EQUIVALENTS EXCRETED OVER 24 H, DERIVED BY MULTIPLYING THE TAA BY THE AMOUNT OF FAECES PASSED OVER 24 H, WAS 3·24 (sd 1·51) mmol Trolox (range 0·92–5·82) and this was significantly correlated with the average 24 h intake of coffee (P=0·002), red wine (P=0·034), and particularly to the sum of coffee and red wine (P<0·0001). In conclusion, the faeces of healthy subjects show detectable capacity to scavenge radical cations, suggesting that antioxidant activity occurs in the colonic lumen. Moreover, such activity seems at least in part to be related to dietary habits.

Keywords

Antioxidant activityFaeces
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 84 , Issue 5 , November 2000 , pp. 705 - 710
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2000

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