Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Smoking is a well-known risk factor for various diseases due to its oxidative stress-inducing effects. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in male smokers and non-smokers to assess the impact of smoking on antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation. A total of 100 male participants, including 50 smokers and 50 non-smokers, were recruited for the study. Blood samples were collected, and serum levels of vitamin C and vitamin E were measured using spectrophotometric methods, while MDA levels were determined as a marker of lipid peroxidation. The results showed a significant decrease in the levels of vitamin C and vitamin E in smokers compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05). Conversely, MDA levels were significantly higher in smokers, indicating increased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in this group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between MDA levels and vitamin C (r = -0.589, p < 0.001) as well as between MDA levels and vitamin E (r = -0.512, p < 0.001) in smokers. These findings suggest that smoking is associated with reduced antioxidant levels and increased lipid peroxidation, which may contribute to the development of various smoking-related diseases. Therefore, interventions to improve antioxidant status, such as dietary supplementation or smoking cessation, may be beneficial in mitigating the adverse effects of smoking on health.

Thesis Overview

BACKGROUND TO STUDY

 Tobacco smoking is a practice of burning tobacco and inhaling the smoke (consisting of gaseous phases and particles). A more broad definition may include taking tobacco smoke into the mouth, and then releasing it, as is done by some with tobacco pipes and cigars. The practice may have begun as early as 5000-3000 BC (Nagarajet al., 2014).Cigarette smoking is probably the most addictive and dependence producing form of object-specific, self-administered gratification known to man. According to present estimates, tobacco is responsible for causing more than 5 million deaths every year (World Health Organization, 2008). The harmful effects of cigarette smoking onhuman health have been well documented.It has been known that cigarette smoke carriesaround 4000 chemicals including toxic metals,poisonous gases and free radicals (Schumacher et al., 2009). Amongst theseconstituents, free radicals are considered to be moredangerous as these owing to their unpaired electron are highly reactive and can cause oxidative damageto biomolecules and biomembranes (Senet al., 2010).

Smoking plays an important role in disturbing the antioxidant balance. Normally blood contains a healthy complement of antioxidants that keep oxidative damage to a minimum. Tobacco smoke contains abundant reactive oxygen species and also activated neutrophils released due to smoking also add to the pool of reactive oxygen species which deplete these antioxidant mechanisms leading to tissue damage (Kumaret al., 2010). Malondialdehyde is a organic compound with the formula CH2 (CHO). This reactive species occurs naturally and is a marker for oxidative stress