Bidis--hand-rolled, Indian cigarettes: induced biochemical changes in plasma and red cell membranes of human male volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of bidi smoking on erythrocyte antioxidant status, membrane fluidity.


METHODS
Thirty experimental and control subjects (mean age 35+/-5) were selected for the study. Experimental subjects smoke 22+/-4 bidis per day for 8-10 years.


RESULTS
Increase in plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls with a decrease in HDL-cholesterol, thiol groups as well as increased erythrocyte catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) content was observed in bidi smokers. Increase in the erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation, cholesterol phospholipids (C/P) ratio as well as decrease in protein and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity was observed. Increase in nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels of plasma, red cell lysate was positively correlated with C/P ratio (r=0.614) and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (r=0.435) in bidi smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Bidi smoke alters antioxidant status, red cell membrane fluidity and increases atherogenicity.
Padmavathi
Pannuru
P
Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur-515 003, AP, India.
Damodara Reddy
Vaddi
V
Narendra
Maddu
M
Varadacharyulu
Nallanchakravarthula
N
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D005978:Glutathione