DIET, ANTIOXIDANT STATUS, AND SMOKING-HABITS IN FRENCH MEN

The aim of this study was to assess the association between smoking, f ood consumption, and antioxidant vitamin intake and plasma indexes of oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in French adults. Food and n utrient intakes of 459 healthy men aged 23-57 y were estimated by the diet history method and analyzed by smoking status. Plasma alpha-tocop herol, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids were measured as antioxidants an d malondialdehyde, protein Schiff bases, and autoantibodies against ma londialdehyde-protein adducts as oxidative stress indexes. Smokers ate less fruit and vegetables than nonsmokers, leading to lower vitamin E , vitamin C, and carotene intakes, even after adjustment for age, educ ation, and marital status. Unlike vitamin E, plasma ascorbic acid and beta-carotene concentrations were reduced in smokers compared with non smokers and were inversely related to cigarette consumption. This diff erence remained significant after adjustment for alcohol and dietary i ntakes. Among the measured oxidative stress indexes, only Schiff base concentration was positively related to the number of cigarettes smoke d. In our sample of French men, smoking had an adverse effect on antio xidant status; vitamin intakes were reduced in smokers and plasma anti oxidant indexes were altered independently of dietary intakes. As in o ther countries, in France smokers require particular attention in term s of public health intervention.