title: Reduced antioxidant defense and increased oxidative stress in spinal cord injured patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the plasma and urine levels of antioxidants and oxidative stress biomarkers in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) the first year after injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive 1-year follow-up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation and research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  SCI subjects (n=37; age range, 18-70 y) consecutively enrolled within the first month after injury. A healthy, able-bodied control group (n=346) was also included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood and urine levels of antioxidants and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured at inclusion and after 3 and 12 months postinjury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One month after injury, the plasma antioxidants (total and oxidized glutathione and 6 different carotenoids and α-tocopherol) were reduced by 19% to 71% among the SCI subjects compared with the controls. The redox potential was reduced by 7% among the SCI subjects. The oxidative stress biomarker urinary 8-epi prostagladin F2α (PGF2α) increased to 161% in the SCI subjects compared with the controls. After 3 and 12 months, most of the antioxidant biomarkers were still significantly reduced compared with the controls, while urinary 8-epi PGF2α had increased to 208% compared with the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of antioxidants were significantly lower, while the marker of oxidative stress was higher in the SCI subjects compared with the controls. This observation demonstrates that SCI patients experience increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant defense the first year after injury. Our findings warrant intervention studies where SCI patients receive dietary antioxidant support as part of their rehabilitation.
authors: Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. n.e.bastani@medisin.uio.no
authors: Nasser Ezzathkah
authors: NE
authors: Bastani
authors: Emil
authors: E
authors: Kostovski
authors: Amrit Kaur
authors: AK
authors: Sakhi
authors: Anette
authors: A
authors: Karlsen
authors: Monica Hauger
authors: MH
authors: Carlsen
authors: Nils
authors: N
authors: Hjeltnes
authors: Rune
authors: R
authors: Blomhoff
authors: Per Ole
authors: PO
authors: Iversen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries; D013997:Time Factors; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D002338:Carotenoids; D005978:Glutathione; D024505:Tocopherols