Antioxidants in Food Research Programme (N04)
Objective: To provide a robust basis for population-level dietary guidelines on achievable and palatable changes to the UK diet which would optimise the consumption of foods rich in those antioxidants which are found to have benefits.
Introduction
The consumption of a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is recommended as a protection against the risks of developing a number of degenerative diseases associated with ageing including cardiovascular diseases and cancer. It is hypothesised that as fruit and vegetables are a rich source of compounds that have antioxidant properties these compounds may protect against the damage that can be caused by reactive oxygen species – the antioxidant hypothesis. Free radicals arise during normal human metabolic processes but can also increase as a result of exposure to environmental influences and through the ageing process. The antioxidant compounds under investigation in this programme are principally vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and non-nutrient compounds such as the flavonoids.
This programme has now concluded. It was recently reviewed. See below.
Aims
The overall objective of this research programme was to test the 'antioxidant hypothesis' and, if the hypothesis was supported, provide information to help define the optimal level of intake of antioxidants in the UK diet.
Abstract
Following a review of the programme in 1996 it was concluded that future research in this programme should concentrate on human intervention studies to study the effects of antioxidants present in the diet, using validated biomarkers developed as potential intermediate predictors of disease end points. This was to lead to a large intervention study testing the effects of Vitamins C and E on a variety of biomarkers developed under the programme. Following the 1996 review, research in this area focused on the following objectives:
- To develop and validate methods for the determination of the nature and extent of biologically relevant oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins that may be applied to ex vivo samples of human tissues.
- To determine the bioavailability and metabolism of antioxidants at over a range of physiologically-relevant intakes, and how and in what form the antioxidants are delivered to their sites of action
- To identify the effects of dietary antioxidants on gene expression and other biomarkers of effect.
- To prepare for a sufficiently powered multi-centre intervention study
During a joint workshop with the N05 Optimal Nutrition Programme in June 2000, the protocol for this intervention study was discussed at length. In conjunction with the fact that the Food Standards Agency was still considering its future strategy for nutrition, it was subsequently decided that it was timely to instigate a major critical review of the programme. One goal is to place this research in the international context and another to consider how this programme might best fit into future policy making. Developments in the field of gene specific biomarkers are of particular interest, but work in this area is at a relatively early stage.
Contact for further information
Name: Dr Peter Sanderson
Tel: 020 7276 8920
Email: peter.sanderson@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
List of projects
Review of the Food Standards Agency's Antioxidants in Food Programme (N04): Executive Summary
The executive summary from the report of the Antioxidants in Food research programme review.
The FSA's response to the N04 review
The FSA's response to the review of the Antioxidants in Food research programme (N04) review.