Non-enzymatic antioxidant status of women using four different methods of contraception

To investigate antioxidant status of women on four different methods of contraception. Sixty non-pregnant women aged 16-45 years on oral contraceptive pills, injectables, Norplant and intra-uterine contraceptive devices [IUD] attending the Family Planning Clinics of the University College Hospital [UCH] and Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan were recruited for the study. Fifty-eight apparently healthy women aged 16-45 years who were not on any contraceptive served as a control group. The body mass index [BMI] of all participants [subjects and controls] was determined following standard protocol. Serum levels of ascorbic acid, tocopherol, malondialdehyde, bilirubin, creatinine, uric acid, total protein and albumin were determined using standard spectrophotometric methods. Progesterone was estimated by the chemilumiscence method while selenium was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry [AAS]. The BMI was significant in women on oral contraceptive pills [OCP] when compared to the control group [P<0.05] but insignificant [P>0.05] in intra-uterine device [IUD], injectables and Norplant users. The mean serum ascorbic acid [P<0.01], tocopherol [P<0.05], total protein [P<0.01], albumin [P<0.05], uric acid [P<0.05], selenium [P<0.01] of women on OCP were significantly lower when compared to the control group but insignificant [P>0.05] in users of other contraceptive methods. Serum levels of malondialdehyde was significantly elevated in women on OCP [P<0.01] than in control group and insignificant P>0.05] in users of other contraceptive methods. There was no significant association between progesterone and antioxidants in women on OCP, IUD, injectables and Norplant. Oral contraceptive pills showed a significant decreasing effect on the antioxidant status of its users while IUD, injectables and Norplant did not indicate any significant effect. Routine monitoring of the antioxidant status of women on different methods of contraceptive particularly those on OCP is recommended

Concentrations of Blood Vitamin A, C, E, Coenzyme Q10 and Urine Cotinine Related to Cigarette Smoking Exposure / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: In smokers, smoking causes many disease entities including cancers, chronic pulmonary diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Passive smoking is also accepted as a carcinogen and its adverse health effects are emphasized. We measured blood vitamin A, C, E (alpha-, beta- and gamma-tocopherol), coenzyme Q10 and urine cotinine concentrations in nonsmokers and smokers. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy nonsmokers and 24 healthy smokers were included in this study. Smoking status was assessed with a self-reported questionnaire. Plasma was analyzed for coenzyme Q10 and serum for vitamin A, C, E using HPLC (Agilent Technologies Inc., USA) and random urine for cotinine using LC/tandem mass spectrometry (Applied Biosystems Inc., Canada). RESULTS: Smokers had significantly lower serum concentrations of vitamin C than nonsmokers (P=0.0005). No significant differences in concentrations of serum vitamin A, E, and plasma coenzyme Q10 were observed. Smokers had highly elevated urine cotinine levels (1,454+/-903 ng/mL). In 16 (76.2%) of 21 nonsmokers, urine cotinine was detected (3.25+/-4.08 ng/mL). The correlations between urine cotinine and blood antioxidants levels were not found. Neither, the correlation between smoking status and blood antioxidants & urine cotinine was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that smokers had significantly lower vitamin C levels among nonenzymatic antioxidants, namely, vitamin A, C, E and coenzyme Q10. High detection rate of urine cotinine in nonsmokers show the seriousness of passive smoking exposure, therefore more social efforts should be directed to reduce passive smoking exposure.

Oxidant and antioxidant activities of different anesthetic techniques. Propofol versus desflurane

To investigate the correlation between propofol and desflurane in terms of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity and to search the possible antioxidant anesthesia technique. The study was performed in the Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, Medical Faculty, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, between January 2006 and July 2006. Thirty, ASA I-II patients, with an age range of 19-55 years, undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomized to receive either propofol infusion [Group P] or desflurane inhalation [Group D] following standard induction. Malondialdehyde [MDA], glutathione peroxidase [GSH], super oxide dismutase [SOD] and alpha-tocopherol [Vitamin E] were measured preoperatively, at peroperatively first hour and postoperatively 12-hour. Malondialdehyde was found lower peroperatively in Group P compared to Group D [p<0.05]. In Group D, Vitamin E levels were decreased significantly peroperatively compared to preoperative period [p=0.001]. We observed a systemic oxidative stress increment with desflurane by terms of MDA; a lipid peroxidation product and endogenous antioxidant activity suppression by terms of Vitamin E at only peroperative period. This study may be defined to support the fact that free oxygen radicals were released more by desflurane than propofol

simple micro method for determination of plasma levels of alpha tocopherol [Vitamin E] in Pakistani normal adults

A relatively simple spectrophotometeric method has been developed for the determination of a tocopherol in human plasma. Method is modification of a previous micromethod base on oxidation of a tocopherol by ferric chloride. The complex of ferrous ions [generated in this reaction] with bathophenanthroline is determined spectrophotometrically at 536 nm. The absorbance of this colored complex is directly proportional to concentration of a tocopherol. The method involves extraction of a tocopherol from human plasma using nhexane which is relatively less toxic than xylene. The assay is sensitive enough to detect as little as 0.2 microg of vitamin. The recovery of a tocopherol from the plasma using n-hexane was in the range of 75% - 100%. The mean values of intra-assay and interassy coefficient of variation were found to be 5.3% and 13%, respectively. The assay was used to monitor a tocopherol levels in plasma samples of 81 normal healthy adults. Mean concentration of plasma a tocopherol in these normal healthy adults was found to be 9.45 +/- 2.64 microg/ml. Sixteen percent of adults had low levels of a tocopherol. The method is rapid, convenient, reproduciable and relatively less hazardous compared to methods using xylene for the extraction of vitamin E. It can be routinely used to analyze as many as 20 plasma samples in about 2 hours time

Status of lipid peroxidation, glutathione, ascorbic acid, vitamin E and antioxidant enzymes in patients with pregnancy--induced hypertension.

The exact pro-oxidant and antioxidant status in pregnancy--induced hypertension patients is still not clear. To add a new insight to the question, changes in the erythrocyte lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde; MDA), levels of glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid and plasma vitamin E (non enzymatic antioxidant parameters) and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase in erythrocytes were studied in thirty five patients with pregnancy--induced hypertension and thirty five healthy pregnant normotensive cases. It was observed that there was a significant increase in erythrocyte MDA levels, activities of SOD, GPx and a significant decrease in erythrocyte GSH, ascorbic acid, plasma vitamin E levels and catalase activity in patients with pregnancy--induced hypertension when compared to controls. The results of our study have shown higher oxygen free radical production, evidenced by increased levels of MDA and decreased levels of GSH, ascorbic acid, vitamin E and Catalase activity supports the oxidative stress in pregnancy--induced hypertension. The increased activities of antioxidant enzymes may be a compensatory regulation in response to increased oxidative stress. The decreased concentrations of glutathione and antioxidant vitamin status supports the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation is an important causative factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

A population-based follow-up study on mortality from cancer or cardiovascular disease and serum carotenoids, retinol and tocopherols in Japanese inhabitants.

OBJECTIVE: Observational epidemiologic studies have shown that a high intake of dietary and high serum levels of carotenoids are associated with a reduced risk of mortality from cancer and cardiovascular disease. To investigate whether high serum levels of carotenoids can reduce mortality rates, a population-based follow-up study was conducted among Japanese inhabitants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three thousand two hundred and fifty-four subjects (1,260 males and 1,994 females) aged from 39 to 85 years who had attended health check-up programs from 1989 to 1995 were recruited from the Japanese population. Serum levels of carotenoids, retinol and tocopherols were separately determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Hazard ratios for serum values of carotenoids, retinol and tocopherols were estimated by Cox's proportional hazard model after adjusting for sex, age, and other confounding factors. RESULTS: During the 11.7-year follow-up period, 140 deaths (86 males and 54 females) from cancer of all sites were identified among the cohort subjects, including 41 from lung , 17 from stomach , 16 from colorectal and 12 from liver cancer, as well as 89 deaths from cardiovascular disease, including 45 from heart disease and 37 from stroke. High serum values of carotenoids including xanthophylls were apparently associated with low hazard ratios for mortality rates of cancer of all sites or of cardiovascular disease. High serum values of beta-carotene, total carotene, provitamin A and total carotenoid for colorectal cancer or stroke also appeared to be related to low hazard ratios. Those of retinol and tocopherols were not associated with any reduction in risk of mortality from cancer or cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our follow-up study demonstrated that a typical Japanese diet related to elevating serum levels of carotenoids with provitamin A activity may significantly reduce risk of mortality from cancer of certain sites or cardiovascular disease, especially colorectal cancer or stroke, while high serum levels of some xanthophylls, retinol and tocopherols do not.

El consumo de Lycopersicum esculentum podría aumentar lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL) y disminuir el estrés oxidativo a corto plazo / Short-term Lycopersicum esculentum consumption may increase plasma high density lipoproteins and decrease oxidative stress

Background: Tomato has a high antioxidant capacity due to its high content of vitamin C, vitamin E and lycopene that is a powerful free radical scavenger. However, the effects of tomato on plasma lipoproteins is not well known, and there is little evidence about the relationship between tomato consumption and oxidative state changes in humans. Aim: To assess in vivo the effects of dietary supplementation with pure concentrated tomato juice on short term changes in oxidative state and plasma lipoproteins in healthy volunteers. Subjects and methods: Seventeen healthy volunteers were studied. They received a supplement of pure tomato juice during 7 days. At baseline, at the end of the supplementarion period and eight days after the end of the supplementation, a blood sample was drawn to measure total antioxidant capacity (TRAP), enzymatic antioxidants (catalase and superoxide dismutase), non-enzimatic antioxidants (lycopene and a-tocopherol) and plasma lipoproteins. Results: Lycopene level increased early and significantly in comparison with basal levels (48%; p <0.05). TRAP, catalase and superoxide dismutase did not change significantly. HDL cholesterol increased significantly in 5.6±4.3 mg/dL (p <0.002) on the second sampling period, improving the ratio cholesterol/HDL. It returned to baseline in the third period. Conclusions: Dietary supplementation of concentrated tomato juice significantly increases lycopene levels and HDL cholesterol. Non significant changes observed in TRAP, catalase and superoxide dismutase were observed during the supplementation period.

Oxidative stress and antioxidant vitamins in obese children

Oxidant-antioxidant status was investigated in a group of obese children in comparison with healthy subjects by determination of malondialdehyde [MDA], tocopherol, and ascorbic acid. Thirty five obese children [25 male and 10 female] mean age [9 +/- 4.4year] with BMI > 2SD of the mean for age and sex [BMI = 31.5 +/- 6.6]. A group of 30 healthy, age and sex matched children were used as a control group. Blood samples were collected from every subject and control after an overnight fast of which 2ml blood collected on heparin for plasma ascorbic acid [vitamin C] and 4ml blood collected into plain tube for serum tocopherol and malondialdehyde [MDA]. MDA was significantly higher in obese children compared to control [P=0.0001]. This was associated with significantly lower plasma vitamin E and vitamin C in obese children compared to control [P= 0.0001]. BMI was positively correlated with age and MDA and showed negative correlation with vitamin E and C. Severely obese children present a highly altered oxidant antioxidant status, which is alarming for the increased risk of complication so early intervention has been recommended by giving antioxidant, diet-control and exercise

Cancer mortality and serum levels of carotenoids, retinol, and tocopherol: a population-based follow-up study of inhabitants of a rural area of Japan.

A total of 3,182 subjects (1,239 males and 1,943 females) aged from 39y to 79y, were recruited from the inhabitants of a rural area in Japan who participated in health check-up programs from 1988 to 1995. During the 10.5 year follow-up, 287 deaths (175 males and 112 females) from all causes, 134 (81 males and 53 females) from cancer of all sites, 31 from lung cancer, 21 from colorectal cancer, 20 from stomach cancer, and 62 from other cancers, were identified among the cohort subjects. Fasting serum samples were taken at the time of the health check-ups, and serum levels of carotenoids, retinol and tocopherols were separately determined by HPLC. Statistical analyses were performed using Cox's proportional hazard model after adjusting for sex, age, and other confounding factors. High serum levels of alpha- and beta- carotenes and lycopene were found to marginally significantly or significantly reduce the risk for mortality rates of cancer of all sites and of colorectal cancers. High serum levels of beta-cryptoxanthin also showed an inversely relation with the risk of mortality from lung and stomach cancers, but this was not statistically significant. High intake of green-yellow vegetables contributing to serum levels of alpha- and beta- carotenes, as well as lycopene, may reduce the risk of cancer mortality, especially from colorectal cancer, in rural Japanese.

Serum tocopheral levels in brucellosis

The levels of various isomers of Tocopherol, a known effecter molecule influencing immune response of host to infectious agents, in sera of patients with brucellosis were measured by utilising high pressure liquid chromatographic techniques and compared with matched controls. Analysis of the results obtained revealed that in patients with brucellosis, serum levels of tocopherol were either markedly reduced or totally absent. These results suggest that the observed decrease or total lack of tocopherol in patients with brucellosis may result in an increase in the invasive disease causing ability of infecting organism, consequently promoting its survival in the host