Objectif Foreseen ResultsThere is a growing awareness of potentially serious nutritional deficiencies in central/eastern Europe, affecting human health. This study will define the extent of the problem and explore the possibilities of rectifying it.The very high levels of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers in central and eastern Europe are likely to be caused in part by nutritional deficiencies. A conspicuous feature of the diet in these countries is the restricted availability of fresh fruit and vegetables in winter, which is likely to lead to poor antioxidant status. Applying sensitive tests for biomarkers of oxidative damage to lipids and DNA (taken as indicators of risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, respectively), as well as assays for antioxidants in plasma, we will investigate the biological consequences of this seasonal variation in three groups of volunteers in Slovakia: (a) normal healthy controls, matched with (b) hyperlipidaemic heart attack survivors, and their relatives (c). We will carry out a supplementation trial to adjust the winter level of antioxidants to that typical of the summer diet. The effect of this intervention on biomarkers of DNA and lipid damage will be monitored. In parallel, animal and cell culture experiments will allow us to examine the mechanism underlying the protective effect of dietary constituents.This proposal arises from an existing Copernicus collaboration which has successfully established the central assay for DNA damage - the "comet assay" - in all the laboratories participating in this initiative.The Research Topics that we are addressing are Agro-Food: Toxicology role of biomarkers for presence of toxic substances, the interaction of compounds which have a positive or negative health effect ) and Food quality ("...aspects of quality-health, nutritional etc.") Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasesmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology Programme(s) FP4-INCO - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of cooperation with third countries and international organizations, 1994-1998 Thème(s) 01021002 - Generic food science Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur ROWETT RESEARCH INSTITUTE Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse GREENBURN ROAD AB21 9SB ABERDEEN Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (3) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE - SLOVAK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Slovaquie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 59,Vlarska 7 833 91 BRATISLAVA Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée FEDERAL RESEARCH CENTRE FOR NUTRITION Allemagne Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 20,Haid und Neu Street 9 76131 Karlsruhe Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine - Slovak Academy of Sciences Slovaquie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 14,Limbová 833 01 Bratislava Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée