Wisdom of vitamins: serum changes following fruit and vegetable supplementation

OBJECTIVES: The FAVOURITE study (NCT01145820) is a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled two‐arm clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of adjunctive encapsulated fruit and vegetable powder concentrate (JuicePlus+) (F&V) supplementation vs. placebo to improve postoperative quality of life and reduce postoperative morbidity following lower third molar (LM3) surgery. The aim of this paper was to compare changes in serum concentration of antioxidant micronutrients (AM) between treatment groups. METHODS: Patients requiring surgical removal of a unilateral impacted LM3 were included. Participants were randomised to take either F&V or placebo supplements twice daily for 11 weeks (10 weeks pre‐ and one week post‐operatively). To assess AM levels blood samples were taken at each study visit (baseline, day of surgery and two post‐surgical follow‐up visits on day2 and 7) and evaluated using ELISA methodology and non‐parametric statistical tests. RESULTS: Blood samples were available for 187 patients (61% female, 52% F&V group, mean age 29.2 years). No differences in AM levels were observed between the active and placebo group at baseline. Following 10 weeks of supplementation Vitamin C (baseline: 61.7µmol/L, 10 weeks: 81.1µmol/L), β‐Carotene (baseline: 0.38mmol/L, 10 weeks: 1.45mmol/L) and α‐Tocopherol (baseline: 21.0mmol/L, 10 weeks: 24.7mmol/L) serum levels increased significantly in the active group, whereas concentrations in the placebo group remained unchanged. In contrast, α‐Carotene, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Cryptoxanthin, Lycopene and Retinol levels stayed unaffected by intake of F&V. CONCLUSIONS: Following F&V supplementation Vitamin C, β‐Carotene and α‐Tocopherol levels achieved a significant increase compared to placebo with other AM remaining unaffected.