RESUMO
The study aims to estimate the changes in the plasma levels of lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), non-enzymatic antioxidants: vitamin C and E and enzymatic antioxidant: superoxide dismutase (SOD). The population used were healthy students (100 male, 100 female); mean age 22.4 years, range 18- 25 years. The level of lipid peroxidation was found to be significantly increased among the students which were inversely related to the level of antioxidants (p<0.05). Increased antioxidant levels show a multiple link between fruit and vegetable intake among the study group. Diminished antioxidant status disturbed oxidant-antioxidant balance alleviating oxidative stress state in less fruit and vegetable intake group. Therefore, the alterations in the level of antioxidants in blood plasma could be used as biomarkers for nutritional tribulations.