title: Effect of smoking on serum xanthine oxidase, malondialdehyde, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol levels in healthy male subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of smoking on serum xanthine oxidase, malondialdehyde, α- tocopherol and ascorbic acid levels in healthy adult male subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional comparative study was carried out at Isra University Hyderabad from July 2012 to December 2012. One hundred and twenty apparently healthy adult male subjects (60 smokers and 60 non-smokers) included in present study, were recruited from Jaindal kot, a small village located midway between Hyderabad and Matiari. Serum samples from smokers and non-smokers were analyzed for xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels by standard kit methods, while for ascorbic acid and alpha- tocopherol by spectrophotometric methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels measured in healthy smokers were 0.30±0.05 mg/dl and 37.50±4.05 µmoles/l respectively as against 0.25±0.04 mg/dl and 19.86±2.21µmoles/l in non-smokers. Both xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly (p<0.001) raised in healthy smokers than in non-smokers. Likewise, mean vitamin E and vitamin C levels were respectively 0.69±0.37 mg/dl and 0.80±0.16 mg/dl in healthy smokers compared to 1.14±0.43 mg/dl and 1.22±0.29 mg/dl in non-smokers. The concentrations of both these vitamins were significantly (p<0.001) lower in smokers than in non-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of present study demonstrate that smoking had significantly increased xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels and decreased vitamins C and E (antioxidants) levels. These findings suggest that smokers have to take additional amounts of vitamins C and E in order to avoid deleterious effects of smoking on their health.
authors: Ali Akbar Shah, M.Phil. Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Isra University Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors: Ali Akbar
authors: AA
authors: Shah
authors: Fatehuddin Khand, PhD. Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Isra University Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors: Fatehuddin
authors: F
authors: Khand
authors: Tayyab Uddin Khand, M.Phil. Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Indus Medical College, Tando Mohammad Khan, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors: Tayyab Uddin
authors: TU
authors: Khand
keywords: Alpha-Tocopherol; Ascorbic acid; Malondialdehyde; Smokers; Xanthine oxidase