ABSTRACT

  Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity in smoker and non-smoker staffs of Kurdistan university of medical sciences.

  Material and Methods: Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups. Smoker group had smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day for at least one year. While non smokers had no previous smoking experience. All individuals in smoker and non smoker groups had no previous history of endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular diseases and no one had nutritional supplements or drug consumption. The subjects were between 25-50 years of age. The collected data about the health status of the subjects, average number of cigarettes smoked per day, and the onset of smoking were recorded in a questionnaire for each patient. Erythrocyte activity of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase and catalase were assessed.

  Results: Glutathione peroxidase (p=0. 001 ), catalase (p=0.001), and Superoxide dismutase showed a significant difference in their activities in the 2 groups. Activity of anti-oxidant enzymes (SOD, GPX, CAT) had been lower markedly in the smokers than non smokers (p<0.001).