Selected markers of oxidant challenge in essential hypertensive smokers

Aim: The study was set to assess the relationship between antioxidant status, smoking and hypertension, the argument being whether there would be a significant difference in antioxidant status and perhaps, a significant difference in blood pressure. Methods: A total of105 samples were collected. 36 samples were collected from type I hypertensive smokers; 47 from hypertensive non smokers, the remaining 22 were collected from normal non smokers, who served as control. The blood pressure of each subject was measured. Determinations of SOD activity and TBARS content were carried out on each of the samples. Determination of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was also carried out using a digital sphygmomanometer. The results of all investigations were thereafter subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 17, the student’s t test being the tool of choice. Significance was tested at P<0.05. Results: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressureof hypertensive smokers and non smokinghypertensives was found to be significantly increased. Similarly the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of hypertensive smokers was found to be significantly increased. SOD activity was significantly decreased while TBARS levels were significantly higher in both hypertensive groups. Lipid peroxidation was significantly higher while SOD activity was significantly lower in hypertensive smokers when compared with hypertensive non smokers Conclusion: It appears that cigarette smoking as a social lifestyle depletes SOD levels but increases lipid peroxidation. It also seems to favour the progression of essential hypertension from mild to severity. Keywords: Smoking, Hypertension, Reactive oxygen species, Antioxidant enzymes