EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON ERYTHROCYTE ANTIOXIDATIVE ENZYME ACTIVITIES AND PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF THEIR COFACTORS

Tobacco smoke contains numerous compounds, many of which are oxidants and capable ofproducing free radical and enhancing the oxidative stress. the aim of this study was to investigate theeffect of cigarette smoking on the erythrocyte antioxidative enzyme activities and the plasmaconcentration of their cofactors. sixty eight healthy men were enrolled, 32 of whom had never smokedand 36 had smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day for at least one year. hemolysate superoxide dismutase(cu-zn sod), glutathione peroxidase (gsh-px) and catalase (cat) activities were measured usingspectrophotometer. plasma copper, zinc and selenium concentrations were determined using atomicabsorption spectrophotometer. plasma iron concentration was determined by colorimetric method. wefound that erythrocyte cu-zn sod activity was significantly higher in tobacco smokers compared withnon-smokers (1294 ± 206.7 u/ghb in smokers vs. 1121.6 ± 237.8 u/ghb in non- smokers, p < 0.01).while plasma selenium concentration was significantly lower in tobacco smokers (62.7±14.8 µg/l insmokers vs. 92.1 ± 17.5 µg/l in non-smokers, p < 0.01), there were no significant differences inerythrocyte gsh-px and cat activity and plasma copper, zinc and iron concentrations between the twogroups. it seems that cigarette smoking can alter antioxidative enzymes activity and plasmaconcentration of some trace elements.