Abstract

Background: Smoking is characterized by increased free radicals and stress oxidative. It is reported that the smokers are more prone to cardiovascular problems caused by increased production of free radicals as well as decreased level of antioxidants. Aims and
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) between adult male smokers and non-smokers.
Materials and Methods: A total of 74 males were involved in this study. Of them, 36 individuals were non-smokers and another 38 were smokers. Age of the smokers and non-smokers was ranged between 30 and 45 years (majority of them 30-40 years old). Venous blood was collected from individuals after an overnight fast. Blood samples were used for the estimation of serum TAC.
Results: Of the 74 individuals in the study, 51% were smokers with a mean age of 35.7 ± 5.8 and 49% were controls with a mean age of 34.0 ± 4.4. Data showed that TAC was significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on this study, we suggest that smoking is associated with decreased antioxidant capacity and stress oxidative. However, future studies should examine the potential role of smoking on oxidant/antioxidant capacity balance.