ASSOCIATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL ANTIOXIDANTS INTAKE AND STRESS LEVEL IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KARAWANG
Authors: Sefrina Linda Riski , Mauludin Lutfi Ashar , Az-zahra Karina 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT
Phytochemical substances have been widely studied regarding their potential to deal with oxidative stress in the body, especially related to non-communicable disease prevention. However, research assessing the antioxidant potential of phytochemicals (flavonoids and carotenoids) in psychological stress is still very limited. This study aims to identify the relationship between flavonoid and carotenoid intake and stress levels in adolescents in Karawang. This research used a cross-sectional study of 103 students as respondents. Flavonoid and carotenoid intake was assessed using a 24-hour food recall, and stress levels were assessed using the DASS-42. The results of this study showed that 56.3 percent of respondents experienced moderate stress, 34.0 percent of respondents experienced mild stress and 9.7 percent of respondents experienced severe stress. The total intake of flavonoids in respondents in this study was only 35.61 ± 34.01 mg/day and the total intake of carotenoids was 2426.27 ± 2279.81 μg/day. This study did not find a relationship between total flavonoid intake and stress levels, but there was a significant relationship between β-cryptoxanthin, one of the carotenoid subclasses, and stress levels (p-value = 0.024). This study concluded that carotenoid intake had an influence on stress in respondents, but not flavonoid intake. Further research needs to identify antioxidant activity in the body to prevent increases in stress levels and reduce the impact of stress on adolescents.
Keywords: adolescent, antioxidants, dietary, stress
ABSTRAK
Substansi fitokimia telah banyak diteliti berkaitan dengan potensinya untuk menangani stress oksidatif dalam tubuh, terutama dalam kaitannya dengan pencegahan penyakit tidak menular. Namun, penelitian yang menilai potensi antioksidan fitokimia (flavonoid dan karotenoid) dalam kaitannya dengan stress psikologi masih sangat terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi hubungan antara asupan flavonoid dan karotenoid dengan tingkat stress pada remaja di Karawang. Penelitian ini menggunakan cross-sectional study pada 103 siswa sebagai responden. Asupan flavonoid dan karotenoid dinilai menggunakan food recall 24 jam, dan tingkat stress dinilai menggunakan DASS-42. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa 56,3 percent responden mengalami stress tingkat sedang, 34,0 percent responden mengalami stress ringan dan 9,7 percent responden mengalami stress berat. Asupan total flavonoid pada responden penelitian ini hanya 35.61±34.01 mg/hari dan asupan total karotenoid sebesar 2426.27±2279.81μg/day. Penelitian ini tidak menemukan hubungan antara asupan total flavonoid dengan tingkat stress, tapi terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara β-cryptoxanthin, salah satu subkelas karotenoid, dengan tingkat stress (p-value= 0,024). Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa asupan karotenoid memiliki pengaruh terhadap stress pada responden, tapi tidak dengan asupan flavonoid. Penelitian selanjutnya perlu mengidentifikasi aktivitas aktioksidan dalam tubuh untuk mencegah peningkatan level stress dan mengurangi dampak akibat stress pada remaja.  
Kata kunci: antioksidan, remaja, konsumsi pangan, stress