Effects of polyphenol-rich chokeberry juice on cellular antioxidant enzymes and membrane lipid status in healthy women

• Three month long intake of chokeberry juice (100 mL) in healthy women was evaluated.
• Long-term chokeberry juice consumption improved membrane lipids status.
• Effects on membrane lipids correlated with change in antioxidant enzymes activity.
• Malondialdehyde was the only serum parameter influenced by the consumption.
• Chokeberry juice has a potential to prevent oxidative stress.

The effect of long-term polyphenol-rich chokeberry juice consumption on activities of antioxidant enzymes and membrane lipid status in erythrocytes of 25 healthy women was examined. Percentages of membrane fatty acids, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were assessed at a baseline, in the middle and at the end of a 3-month-long consumption period. A significant increase in C22:6n-3, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), total PUFAs and unsaturation index and a significant decrease in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and n-6:n-3 ratio were found. Significantly higher SOD and GPX activities were also recorded at the end of the study. Serum lipids and glucose were stabile during the consumption period, while the levels of thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances (TBARS), as serum indicator of lipid peroxidation, were reduced significantly. These results indicate a positive impact of regular chokeberry juice consumption on cellular oxidative damage and suggest its putative role in the protection against oxidative stress.