title: Relationship between the plasma levels of beta-carotene and lung functions in cigarette smokers.
abstract: Relationships between the plasma levels of beta-carotene (BC) and spirometry were studied in 30 asymptomatic male cigarette smokers and 34 age-matched non-smoking control subjects. Plasma BC-levels, determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were decreased on average by 18% (p 0.1251) in the smokers relative to the non-smokers and by 28% (p 0.015) following correction for blood cholesterol. The spirometric values, FEV1 and FEF25-75, determined from the flow-volume loops of each subject, were decreased by 5% (p 0.095) and 12% (p 0.0072) respectively in the smokers relative to the non-smokers. In the smokers, but not in the non-smokers, the plasma levels of BC correlated significantly and positively with the spirometric values, FEV1 (r 0.48, p 0.01) and FEF25-75 (r 0.58, p 0.0008). The results suggest that BC-status may determine susceptibility to oxidant-mediated pulmonary dysfunction in cigarette smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Pretoria.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Van Antwerpen
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Theron
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Van Der Merwe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van der Walt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D002784:Cholesterol; D003367:Cotinine