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Impact of smoking on oxidant/antioxidant status and oxidative stress index levels in serum of the university students

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Abstract

Background

Despite frequent warnings of irreversible side effects of smoking in public media, the consumption of cigarette is increasing dramatically in both developed and developing countries. Cigarette smoke contains different kinds of chemicals, which all capable of inducing free radical production. There are studies supporting the idea that these free radicals have adverse effects in body and causing oxidative stress. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is considered as the total effect of all antioxidants and total oxidant status (TOS) shows the total effect of all oxidants existing in body fluids. Therefore, this research focused on the measurement and comparison of these markers in the serum of university students.

Methods

This study designed to determine the total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index levels in the serum of active smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers in university students. A total of 150 participants were included in the study. The study population consisted of 50 smokers, 50 passive smokers and 50 nonsmokers. In serum samples, the levels of TAC and TOS were measured by spectrophotometric method using Rel Assay Diagnostics kit. Oxidative stress index was calculated through the TOS/TAC formula in three groups.

Results

The mean value TAC levels in serum samples of the three groups of smokers, passive smokers and nonsmokers were 1.096, 1.220 and 1.844 mmol Trolox equivalent/L, respectively, which were significantly greater in nonsmokers than smokers and passive smokers. The mean value TOS levels in serum samples of the three groups of smokers, passive smokers and nonsmokers were 13.747, 11.099 and 7.6510 µmol H2O2 equivalent/L, respectively, which were significantly lower in nonsmokers than two other groups. OSI values in smokers and passive smokers were significantly higher than the control group.

Conclusions

According to our findings, the antioxidant capacity in all smokers (active and inactive) was less than the control group (non-smokers). The results of this study showed that smoking reduces the activity of the antioxidant defense system and activates the oxidative stress system in the body. Based on these findings, it can be clearly concluded that the decrease in antioxidant capacity in smokers is associated with increased production of oxidants and free radicals.

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Abbreviations

TAC:

Total Antioxidant Capacity

TOS:

Total oxidant Statu

OSI:

Oxidative Stress Index.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Elite Researcher Grant Committee under award number (977084) from the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), Tehran, Iran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences (grant no. 97-01-46-37786). Hereby, the cooperation of the Institute for Environmental Research (IER) is highly appreciated.

Funding

This study was supported by Elite Researcher Grant Committee under award number (977,084) from the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), Tehran, Iran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences (grant no. 97-01-46-37786). Hereby, the cooperation of the Institute for Environmental Research (IER) is highly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Ecology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Reza Ahmadkhaniha

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Fatemeh Yousefian

  3. Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417993359, Iran

    Noushin Rastkari

  4. Center for water Quality Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Noushin Rastkari

Authors
  1. Reza Ahmadkhaniha
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  2. Fatemeh Yousefian
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  3. Noushin Rastkari
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Contributions

RA and NR participated in the design of the study. RA did the analyses and FY interpreted the analyzed results. NR was the main investigator, supervised the work, drafted and revised the paper critically for important intellectual content and compiled the work in accordance to journal format. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Noushin Rastkari.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

The research protocol was approved by Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR.TUMS.VCR.REC.1397.585).

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Ahmadkhaniha, R., Yousefian, F. & Rastkari, N. Impact of smoking on oxidant/antioxidant status and oxidative stress index levels in serum of the university students. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 19, 1043–1046 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00669-y

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