Effects of smoking on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant defense systems

In this study, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxi dase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) enzymes were measured in the erythrocytes , and levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and antioxi dant potential (AOP) values were measured in both erythrocyte and plasma sa mples from smokers and nonsmokers. No significant differences were observed in erythrocyte parameters, serum triglycerides, and total cholesterol. AOP was significantly lower and TEARS level higher in the plasma samples from smokers compared with those of nonsmokers. Results suggest that smoking cau ses no impairment in the enzymatic antioxidant defense system and does not lead to oxidant stress in the erythrocytes, possibly because these cells ha ve potent antioxidant defense capacity.