| Abstract [eng] |
Chronic stress is considered to one of main risk factors for various diseases. During exposure of stress, weak antioxidant system and reduced levels of serum antioxidants can‘t protect biomolecules from free radical damage. For many years, psichological surveys, antropometric data and measurement of hair cortisol concentration were used in order to evaluate the level of chronic stress. Nowadays, scientists are searching for new stress biomarkers. It is suggested, that serum antioxidants can be an important factor measuring stress. The best antioxidants are natural pigments carotenoids. It is observed that due to chronic stress exposure serum antioxidant concentrations decreases, but there is still not enough information about changes in carotenoid concentrations. The aim of this work was to evaluate serum carotenoid concentrations in young (25-39 years) and medium aged (40-55 years) individuals suffering from different levels of chronic stress. Method: 202 young and medium age healthy males were subjects in this research. Psychological stress was evaluated by psychosocial questionnare and concentrations of carotenoids was measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Microsoft Office Excell 2010 and IBM SPSS (V.23) software packages were used for statistical analysis. Results and conclusions: The stress level of participants can be concidered as low. Medium concentrations of carotenoids μmol/l: liutein 0,355 ± 0,18, zeaxantin 0,013 ± 0,011, canthaxantin 0,046 ± 0,041, β-kriptoxantin 0,119 ± 0,107, α-carotene 0,295 ± 0,197, β-carotene 0,718 ± 0,437, likopene 0,570 ± 0,276 and total carotenoid concentration 2,117 ± 0,890 μmol/l. Carotenoid concentrations had no statistically significant differences between age groups. Total concentration of serum carotenoids was statistically significantly lower in participants with higher level of stress. |
