Effects of acute cigarette smoking on total blood count and markers of oxidativestress in active and passive smokers

摘要

Background: Free radicals, as a product of cigarette smoke, are considered to have deleterious effects causing oxidative stress. Acute active smoking seems to be followed by transient leukocytosis and delayed increase in neutrophil activation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the oxidative status of smokers and passive non-smokers, as well as the impact that acute cigarette smoking has on hematological parameters.Methods: Thirty-two healthy volunteers, 16 active smokers (Group A) aged 20-23 years and 16 age-matched, non-smokers (Group B), 18 women and 14 men in total, participated voluntarily in the study. All subjects did not have any food, drink, or cigarette smoking for eight hours before the study. Each time, two active smokers and two non-smokers were exposed simultaneously for half an hour to the smoke of two cigarettes smoked consecutively by the smokers. Blood was drawn before and after the exposure to cigarette smoke. Whole blood was analyzed immediately for total blood count parameters and serum was stored in -70^◦C until serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin E (VitE), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined.Results: No statistical significant difference was observed in the values of white blood cells and their subpopulations between the two groups and within the same group before and after exposure to cigarette smoke. In the group of smokers, granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio increased significantly, MDA levels showed significant elevation and protective VitE serum levels decreased significantly, whereas TAC was reduced, but not significantly, after theexposure. In the group of passive, non-smokers the results of the blood count parameters, MDAand VitE were similar to Group A, and there was a significant decrease in TAC, as well. Betweenthe two groups, only hematocrit values and MDA levels differed significantly before theexposure to smoke, and no other significant difference was detected before or after theexposure, between active and passive smokers.Conclusions: Acute exposure to cigarette smoking affects hematological indexes and oxidativestress biomarkers negatively, in both active and passive smokers, with similar results. Theoutcome seems to be even worse in passive smokers regarding oxidative stress and antioxidantprotection markers. Elimination of cigarette smoking could prevent the adverse effects forsmokers, as well as for healthy non-smokers in their vicinity. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4):293-297.