Determination of the antioxidative potential of human plasma after supplementation with pycnogenol and whey

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidative properties of human blood plasma utilised in six different biochemical in vitro test systems and to investigate the supplementation of human blood plasma with Pycnogenol and whey powder in three out of these six systems. Furthermore was the copper induced LDL-oxidation used. It is shown that plasma indicates a varied antioxidative capacity in the six systems used depending on the ROS generated in the single test system. To enhance the antioxidative properties of plasma it can be supplemented with polyphenols, which are known to act as antioxidants. Hence a mixture of different polyphenols would be a great opportunity and is given in the extract of pine bark, Pycnogenol. The supplementation of plasma with Pycnogenol and whey powder exhibits the possibility to use whey as a carrier for Pycnogenol, not reducing the properties of Pycnogenol, instead achieving an additive effect.