title: Effects of cigarette smoking on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in cancer patients from Western Nepal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is growing evidence that oxidative stress (OS) has a causal relationship with cancer and a weak antioxidant defense can aggravate it further. We therefore, undertook this study to examine lipid peroxidation (TBARS), total antioxidant activity (TAA), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and α- tocopherol levels in cancer patients, with special attention to the influence of smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects were 42 patients (61.19 ± 10.1 yrs) suffering from cancer and 43 normal subjects (NS) (56.69 ± 19.1 yrs). Plasma levels of TBARS, TAA, vitamin C and ?- tocopherol were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TAA and α-tocopherol levels were significantly lower and TBARS levels significantly higher in cancer patients when compared to NS. In smoking cancer patient's ?-tocopherol levels were significantly low and TBARS significantly raised.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations indicate that increased lipid peroxidation, reduced total antioxidant activity and ?-tocopherol levels are associated with cancer development, with and without smoking. However, a greater reduction of TAA in smokers may be due to increased oxidants introduced by smoking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal. nagu7890@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagamma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anjaneyulu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baxi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dayaram
authors.forename: Pp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D009390:Nepal; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid