Positive Health Online

Abstract

LYKKESFELDT and colleagues, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley CA USA write that lack of reliable dietary data has hampered the ability to distinguish between effects of smoking and diet on plasma antioxidant status . The authors investigated the effect of smoking upon plasma antioxidant status by measuring vitamins C and E (alpha- and gamma-tocopherol), beta-carotene and lycopene and tested the effect of a 3-month dietary supplementation using a moderate-dose vitamin cocktail.

Background

Methodology

The authors conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of a vitamin cocktail on plasma antioxidants in a population of 37 smokers and 38 nonsmokers. The vitamin cocktail contained 272 mg vitamin C, 31 mg all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and 400 microg folic acid. The subjects were selected for having a low intake of fruit and vegetables.

Results

Only vitamin C was significantly depleted by smoking . Following the 3 month supplementation period, vitamin C was efficiently repleted in smokers. Plasma alpha-tocopherol and the ratio of alpha- to gamma-tocopherol increased significantly in both supplemented groups.

Conclusion

These data suggest that previous reports of lower concentrations of plasma vitamin E and carotenoids in smokers than in nonsmokers may primarily have been caused by differences in dietary habits between study groups. Plasma vitamin C was depleted by smoking and repleted by moderate supplementation.

References

Lykkesfeldt J et al. Ascorbate is depleted by smoking and repleted by moderate supplementation: a study in male smokers and nonsmokers with matched dietary antioxidant intakes. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 71(2): 530-6. Feb 2000.