impact of antioxidant supplementation on improving antioxidant status among Egyptian porcelain workers exposed to benzene

Workers exposed to hydrocarbon were reported to suffer from oxidative stress due to over production of reactive oxygen species [ROS]. Cells are protected against ROS by an integrated antioxidants defense system, and some interacting elements. This study aims to assess the antioxidant status of Egyptian workers occupationally exposed to the inhalation of benzene in porcelain industry. The protective role of pharmaceutical preparation based on capsules containing vitamins A, C and E and the trace elements selenium and zinc were studied as well. This study consisted of 33 porcelain workers and 33 age - matched controls. Baseline data included the determinations of plasma malondialdehyde [MDA], total-carotenes, vitamins A, C and E; selenium [Se] and zinc [Zn] and the erythocytic reduced glutathione [GSH], enzyme activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase [SOD]. The porcelain workers administered daily capsules for 30 days. At the termination of the supplementation period, blood samples were collected for the analysis of the same biomarkers indicated above. The results demonstrated that at baseline, plasma MDA was significantly higher compared to the respective mean value of the control group. On the other hand, the mean blood GSH level and the activities of catalase and SOD were significantly lower than controls. Similar trend was found with the plasma levels of vitamins A, C, E, Se and Zn. The 30 day administration of the pharmaceutical preparation to the porcelain workers corrected all the studied biochemical parameters and the mean values were quite overlapping with those of the controls. porcelain workers are potentially at high risk of lipid peroxide [LPO] induced injuries. Rigid preventive measures should be undertaken to minimize exposure to benzene with concomitant monitoring of their health status and prophylactic intervention with antioxidant vitamins and trace elements supplements