Antioxidant intake, oxidative stress and inflammation among immigrant women from the Middle East living in Sweden: Associations with cardiovascular risk factors

Background and aimsImmigrant women from the Middle East have higher cardiovascular risk compared to native women. Whether low antioxidant intake, oxidative stress or inflammation contributes to risk is unknown. In a cross-sectional study of 157 randomly selected foreign-born women (Iranian and Turkish) and native women living in Sweden, we investigated antioxidant status, oxidative stress (F2-isoprostanes) and systemic inflammation (plasma high sensitive C-reactive protein; CRP) markers. We also investigated relationships between F2-isoprostanes, CRP and cardiovascular risk factors.Methods and resultDietary intake was assessed using 24-h dietary recalls repeated four times. Micronutrient intake was not consistently different between groups. Serum α-tocopherol, but not γ-tocopherol levels, was lower in Turkish vs. Swedish women (P < 0.05). Turkish women had the highest F2-isoprostane levels (P < 0.05 vs. Iranian women) and CRP levels (P < 0.01 vs. Swedish women and P = 0.05 vs. Iranian women). In immigrants (n = 97), F2-isoprostanes correlated positively to insulin levels (r = 0.31, P < 0.01), and CRP was correlated to obesity and several cardiovascular risk factors (r-values >0.21, P values <0.05).ConclusionThe role of antioxidant status is unclear, whereas signs of oxidative stress and inflammation are evident in immigrant women from Middle East, especially Turkish women. Oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation might contribute to the higher cardiovascular risk previously observed in immigrant women. Further larger studies adjusting for more potential confounders are motivated to confirm these results.