04-15-2008, 10:27 AM
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Lecturer
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Propecia, CA
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Wheat Grass May Be a Stronger Antioxidant than Spirulina
Quote:
Date: April 15, 2008 HC# 120374-350
Re: Study Shows Wheat Grass to be Better Antioxidant Than Spirulina
Shyam R, Singh SM, Vats P, et al. Wheat grass supplementation decreases oxidative stress in healthy subjects: a comparative study with spirulina [letter to the editor]. J Altern Complement Med. 2007;13(8):789-791.
"Recent investigations have shown that the antioxidant properties of plants could be correlated with oxidative stress defense in different human diseases," write the authors in their letter to the editor of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. They report the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed at evaluating the effect of wheat grass (Triticum aestivum) and spirulina (Arthrospira maxima) as antioxidants.
Thirty healthy subjects aged 18 to 21 years volunteered for the study. All of the subjects were undergoing training at the School of Medical Assistants, Institute of Naval Medicine, Mumbai, India. They all ate at the same place, their socioeconomic status was similar, they had similar body mass indices and were all engaged in routine physical exercise.
The subjects were divided into 3 groups of 10. Group 1 took placebo (calcium gluconate), group 2 took wheat grass, and group 3 took spirulina. All 3 supplements were given as a dry powder for 30 days at 500 mg twice daily (before breakfast and dinner) in capsules that were identical in appearance. The wheat grass was manufactured by M/s Sanat Products Ltd., Delhi, India; the spirulina, by M/s Nutraceuticals Bio-Tech, Mumbai, India.
Physical parameters were recorded between 7 am and 8 am before taking food. Blood samples were collected after 12 hours of fasting before and after 30 days of supplementation. Biochemical tests were performed to assess the following values: reduced glutathione (an antioxidant); blood malondialdehyde (MDA) (biomarker for oxidative stress); vitamin C; total antioxidant status in plasma; superoxide dismutase (SOD) (an antioxidant); and the enzyme glutathione reductase.
Statistical analysis was carried out by using a paired t test within each group to make conclusions of a significant change from baseline. Data were reported as mean � standard error of the mean. A value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
The authors report that supplementation with wheat grass for 30 days (group 2) resulted in significant reductions in blood concentrations of MDA and enhanced concentrations of plasma total antioxidant status, vitamin C, and SOD (P<0.05) from baseline. Spirulina supplementation did not alter the blood concentrations of MDA significantly, but a trend toward lower values was evident.
As the authors point out, MDA is a good marker for lipid oxidation and its increase may indicate oxidative injury. Plasma total antioxidant status is usually considered to provide indication of the body's global antioxidant status.
In this study, the total antioxidant status improved significantly after wheat grass supplementation, which may be because the supplementation significantly increased the plasma concentration of major antioxidants, vitamin C, and erythrocyte activity of SOD. Small amounts of other antioxidant compounds absorbed from wheat grass (e.g., vitamin C, beta-carotene, and α-tocopherol) may be the reason for the increased total antioxidant status of plasma, say the authors.
Spirulina supplementation also increased plasma total antioxidant status; however, this was not statistically significant.
"Hence, this study showed that wheat grass is a better antioxidant as compared to Spirulina," write the authors.
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https://content.herbalgram.org/iherb/...ew.asp?i=45241
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