Vitamin E supplementation prevents lung dysfunction and lipid peroxidationin nude mice exposed to side-stream cigarette smoke

Sidestream cigarette smoke (SSCS) is a major component of environmental tob acco smoke. The purpose of this study was to investigate development of lun g injury and lipid peroxidation in the lung and liver of immunodeficient (N ude) mice exposed to a small amount of SSCS (a total 5 hours of exposure). The effects of vitamin E supplementation of the mice were also determined. SSCS increased pulmonary resistance and lipid peroxidation in these mice. D ietary vitamin E supplementation increased vitamin E levels in lung and liv er. In addition, vitamin E attenuated SSCS-mediated pulmonary injury and li pid peroxidation. It appears that the enhanced resistance against SSCS-indu ced lung injury and lipid peroxidation may be primarily due to the increase d antioxidant property of vitamin E in vitamin E-supplemented mice. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Inc.