Survey of the activities of erythrocyte super-oxide dismutase, gluthathion peroxidase and catalase in smoker and non-smoker men working in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity in smoker and non-smoker staffs of Kurdistan university of medical sciences. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups. Smoker group had smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day for at least one year. While non smokers had no previous smoking experience. All individuals in smoker and non smoker groups had no previous history of endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular diseases and no one had nutritional supplements or drug consumption. The subjects were between 25-50 years of age. The collected data about the health status of the subjects, average number of cigarettes smoked per day, and the onset of smoking were recorded in a questionnaire for each patient. Erythrocyte activity of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase and catalase were assessed. Glutathione peroxidase (p=0.001), catalase (p=0.001), and Superoxide dismutase showed a significant difference in their activities in the 2 groups. Activity of anti-oxidant enzymes (SOD, GPX, CAT) had been lower markedly in the smokers than non smokers (p<0.001). The results of our study showed a high reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased SOD and CAT activities, which support the oxidative stress hypothesis in carcinogenesis. The relatively low GPX, GR, SOD and CAT activities may not be adequate to detoxify high levels of H2O2 into H2O, leading to the formation of the most dangerous 0OH radical. Therefore, administration of antioxidants may be helpful in the management of BC patients. However, further definitive clinical studies are required to evaluate the role of these antioxidant enzymes in BC management.