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Treatment with dextromethorphan improves endothelial function, inflammation and oxidative stress in male heavy smokers
Author(s) -
LIU P.Y.,
LIN C.C.,
TSAI W.C.,
LI Y.H.,
LIN L.J.,
SHI G.Y.,
HONG J.S.,
CHEN J.H.,
WU H.L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.947
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 1538-7836
pISSN - 1538-7933
DOI - 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2008.03082.x
Subject(s) - endothelial dysfunction , medicine , oxidative stress , endocrinology , inflammation , von willebrand factor , brachial artery , blood pressure , platelet
Summary. Background: Dextromethorphan (DM) is reported to reduce the inflammation‐mediated degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Objective: The goal of this study was to test if DM can improve the endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory markers in heavy smokers. Patients and methods: Forty habitual smoking healthy male volunteers (mean age, 31.5 ± 1.4 years) were randomly given either DM (120 mg day −1 ) or a placebo for 6 months. We determined endothelial function using the brachial artery diameter changes in flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD) and measured their inflammatory and oxidative markers. A sex‐and‐age matched non‐smoking group ( n = 20) was compared as normal parameters. Results: Habitual smokers showed impaired baseline endothelial function in FMD (smoking vs. non‐smoking: 6.3 ± 1.8 vs. 10.2 ± 2.3% respectively, P < 0.01). Without change in smoking behavior, lipid and metabolic parameters, a significant increase in FMD was found in the DM‐treated group (32%), accompanied by a decrease in high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), phospholipase A 2 , matrix metalloproteinase‐3, interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and tumor necrosis factor‐α receptor II (TNF‐α RII) (all P < 0.05), but unchanged in von Willebrand factor (VWF)and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1). An increase in plasma glutathione peroxidase and a decrease in spot urinary excretion of 8‐epi‐prostaglandin F 2a were found in DM‐treated smokers. Conclusions: Our study suggests that a 6‐month treatment with DM can improve endothelial function and attenuate vascular oxidative stress and inflammation markers in habitual smokers.