Vitamins C and E treatment combined with exercise modulates oxidative stress markers in blood of patients with fibromyalgia: a controlled clinical pilot study.

We aimed to investigate effects of vitamins C and E (VCE) supplementation with exercise (EX) on antioxidant vitamin and lipid peroxidation (LP) levels in blood of patients with fibromyalgia (FM). A controlled study was performed on blood samples from 32 female FM patients and 30 age-matched controls. The patients were divided into three groups namely EX (n = 10), VCE (n = 11), and EX plus VCE (n = 11) after taking basal blood samples. After 12 weeks of EX and VCE supplementation, blood samples were taken once more from the patients. LP levels in plasma and erythrocytes were higher in the patients at baseline than those in controls, whereas LP levels were lower in the VCE and EX groups at the end of 12 weeks than those at baseline. Plasma concentrations of vitamins A and E and reduced glutathione were lower in the patients than those in controls and their concentrations were increased by VCE and EX. Glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes was increased by VCE supplementation, with or without EX. Concentrations of ß-carotene in the groups did not change with treatment. Despite the measured effects on anti-oxidative mechanisms, FM symptoms were not improved by the treatments. In conclusion, VCE with EX may protect against FM-induced oxidative stress by up-regulation of an antioxidant redox system in the plasma and erythrocytes of patients with FM. Such protective effects of VCE in the patients seemed to be greater in combination with EX than EX alone.

Selenium and vitamin E modulates radiation-induced liver toxicity in pregnant and nonpregnant rat: effects of colemanite and hematite shielding.

The levels of liver lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, and vitamins A and E were used to follow the level of oxidative damage caused by ionizing radiation in pregnant rats. The possible protective effects of selenium and vitamin E supplemented to rats housed in concrete-protected cages using hematite and colemanite were tested and compared to untreated controls. Ninety-six rats were randomly divided into four main equal groups namely control (A), normal concrete (B), concrete containing colemanite (C), and concrete containing hematite (D). Except group A, all groups exposed to 7 Gy radiation. The four main groups were divided into four subgroups each as follows: subgroups 1 (n = 6): nonpregnant control rats. Subgroups 2 (n = 6): selenium and vitamin E combination was intraperitoneally (i.p.) given to the nonpregnant rats for 20 days. Subgroups 3 (n = 6): pregnant control rats. Subgroups 4 (n = 6): selenium and vitamin E combination was i.p. given to the pregnant rats for concessive 20 days. Lactate dehydrogenate, alkaline phosphates, and lipid peroxidation values were higher in subgroups 1 and 3 than in no radiation group although glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E levels in liver were lower in radiation group than in no radiation group. Lactate dehydrogenate activity and lipid peroxidation levels were found to be decreased in subgroups 2 and 4 protected with concrete containing hematite and colemanite when compared to subgroup 1 and 3 with normal concrete. The radiation doses in rats housed by concrete without colemanite and hematite exposed radiation clearly showed liver degeneration. In conclusion, selenium and vitamin E supplementations and housing by concrete with colemanite was found to offer protection against gamma-irradiation-induced liver damage and oxidative stress in rats, probably by exerting a protective effect against liver necrosis via its free radical scavenging and membrane stabilizing. Protective effects of colemanite in the liver seem to be more important than in hematite.

Vitamin C and E combination modulates oxidative stress induced by X-ray in blood of smoker and nonsmoker radiology technicians.

X-ray radiation is detrimental to human cells and may lead to development of life-threatening diseases. Cigarette smoke contains about 500 chemicals that include organic and oxidant compounds whereas vitamin C and E (VCE) have scavenger effects on the compounds. We investigated effects of VCE administration on X-ray-induced oxidative toxicity in blood of smoker and nonsmoker X-ray technicians. Twenty technicians and 30 healthy age-matched subjects control were used in the study. Ten of the X-ray technicians and 15 of the control were smokers. Blood samples were taken from the control. Oral vitamin C (500 mg) and vitamin E (150 mg) were daily supplemented to the smoker and nonsmoker X-ray technicians for 5 weeks. Blood samples were taken from the X-ray technicians after and before 5 weeks. Plasma and erythrocytes lipid peroxidation (LP), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, erythrocytes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and plasma antioxidant vitamin concentrations were investigated in control and X-ray technicians with smoker and nonsmoker. Plasma and erythrocytes LP levels were higher in the total X-ray group and smoker X-ray group than in control and nonsmoker X-ray group, respectively although the LP level was decreased by the VCE treatment. The plasma vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, and beta-carotene concentrations were lower in the X-ray group than in control although their concentrations were increased by the treatment. The erythrocytes GSH level and GSH-Px activity were found to be higher in the treatment group than in the X-ray group. Plasma GSH level was not found to be different in all group. Reactive oxygen species may play role in the mechanism that has been proposed to explain the biological side effect of X-ray radiation and smoke. VCE prevents the smoke and X-ray-induced oxidative stress to strengthen antioxidant vitamin concentrations in the blood of the technicians.

Levels of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, and antioxidant vitamins in plasma of patients with fibromyalgia.

The etiology of fibromyalgia is not clearly understood. In recent years, a few studies have investigated the possible role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the etiology and pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. The aim of this study was to investigate plasma antioxidant vitamins, lipid peroxidation (LP), and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with fibromyalgia and controls. The study was performed on the blood plasma of 30 female patients and 30 age-matched controls. After a fast of 12 h, blood samples were taken, and plasma samples were obtained for measurement of vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene concentrations and levels of LP and NO. Concentrations of vitamins A (p < 0.01) and E (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with fibromyalgia than in controls, and LP levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the plasma of the patients than in controls. Concentrations of vitamin C and beta-carotene and levels of NO did not change significantly. These results provide some evidence for a potential role of LP and fat-soluble antioxidants in the patients with fibromyalgia.