OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of nutrition protection on oxidation damage of the submarine men.

METHODS50 submarine men were randomly divided into test group and control group, 25 persons each. The test group member took VitB2 5 mg, VitC 200 mg, GPC capsule 50 mg, once every other day and VitA capsules 25 000 units for every week during the sea-voyage. The total anti-oxidative capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), the proliferation of peripheral-blood lymphocyte (PPL), the hemolytic degree of RBC and IFN-gamma were detected.

RESULTSBefore sea voyage, the difference in the T-AOC and SOD and PPL and IFN-gamma and the MDA content and the hemolytic degree of RBC between the test group and the control group were not significant (P>0.05). After sea voyage, the T-AOC and SOD and PPL and IFN-gamma in the test group [(24.08 +/- 0.10) U/ml, (44.85 +/- 0.96) U/ml, (0.29 +/- 0.05) (with H2O2), (0.34 +/- 0.04) (without H2O2) and (34.21 +/- 3.52) pg/ml] were higher than the control group [(21.06 +/- 1.10) U/ml, (42.80 +/- 1.46) nu/ml, (0.23 +/- 0.01) (with H2O2), (0.34 +/- 0.04) (without H2O2) and (31.89 +/- 3.52) pg/ml]. The MDA content and the hemolytic degree of RBC [(2.15 +/- 0.28) nmol/ml and (20.96% +/- 0.10%)] were lower than the control group [(2.44 +/- 0.32) nmol/ml and (23.12% +/- 0.77%)]. The difference was significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTo add antioxidant nutrients can improve the submarine men's antioxidant capacity.