Positive Health Online

Abstract

DIETRICH and colleagues, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 94720-7360, USA, mdietrich@uclink.berkeley.edu, found that smoking and exposure to environmental smoke decrease some plasma antioxidants and increase gamma-tocopherol.

Background

Free radicals in cigarette smoke may cause oxidative damage to macromolecules and contribute to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Decreased plasma antioxidant concentrations may indicate smoke-related oxidative stress.

Methodology

Plasma samples from 83 smokers, 40 passive smokers, and 36 nonsmokers were analyzed for total ascorbic acid, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, 5 carotenoids, retinol, and cotinine. Groups were compared using analysis of variance with adjustment for sex, age, race, body mass index, alcohol intake, triacylglycerol concentration, fruit and vegetable intakes, and idetary antioxidants.

Results

After adjustment for dietary antioxidant intake and other co-variates, smokers and passive smokers had significantly lower plasma beta-carotene concentrations than nonsmokers, and significantly higher gamma-tocopherol concentrations. Smokers had significantly lower plasma ascorbic acid and beta-cryptoxanthin concentrations than passive smokers and nonsmokers, and significantly lower concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin than nonsmokers (all p values 0.05).

Conclusion

These results suggest that cigarette smokers and passive smokers have a significantly lower plasma antioxidant status than do nonsmokers. Further research is needed to explain why gamma-tocopherol is elevates in smokers as compared to nonsmokers.

References

Dietrich M, Block G, Norkus EP, Hudes M, Traber MG, Cross CE, Packer L. Smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke decrease some plasma antioxidants and increase gamma-tocopherol in vivo after adjustment for dietary antioxidant intakes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 77 (1): 160-166, Jan 2003.