Abstract
Despite similar vitamin E contents, erythrocytes of smokers have an increased tendency (P < 0.01) to peroxidize in vitro compared with those of nonsmokers. This difference is abolished by vitamin E supplementation (1000 mg alpha-tocopherol acetate/d for 14 d). The increased susceptibility to erythrocyte peroxidation in the smokers may reflect lower glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (P < 0.02) and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05) activities. Smokers seem to be under a sustained oxidant stress with increased plasma-conjugated dienes (P < 0.01) and dehydroascorbate (P < 0.05) and decreased ascorbate (P < 0.06) concentrations. Additionally, plasma ceruloplasmin in smokers is elevated (P < 0.01), consistent with an acute-stress response. Plasma total cholesterol is similar in smokers and nonsmokers and is unaffected by vitamin E supplementation. Indices of sustained oxidant stress in smokers are partially ameliorated by vitamin E supplementation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1061S-1063S |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
Volume | 53 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - Apr 1991 |
Keywords
- smoking
- free radicals
- antioxidants
- vitamin-e
- coronary heart-disease