Pringle, Kerry Louise (1994) Modulation of the inflammatory response by antioxidants. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Abstract
Cigarette smokers inhale a regular influx of free radicals and other inflammatory stimuli resulting in immune cell activation, cytokine production and acute phase protein production in the liver. Data is reported which indicates that these phenomenon were positively related to the number of cigarettes smoked, and decreased after cessation of smoking. The response was enhanced by higher polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and suppressed by higher vitamin E intake in smokers. In addition, the plasma concentrations of antioxidants in smokers was poor, despite similar dietary intakes to non smokers. This may have indicated a higher metabolic demand for dietary antioxidants in smokers.
Endotoxaemia is known to produce cytokines and free radicals in experimental animals. Work is reported in which the vitamin E status of rats can modulate the hepatic and pulmonary response to endotoxin administration in rats. Deficiency enhanced anorexia and accompanying weight loss, the hepatic production of acute phase proteins and lung inflammation, whereas vitamin E supplementation suppressed lung inflammation and spared the production of other substances with antioxidant properties in a compensatory manner. These general observations were apparent throughout a range of inflammatory stimuli, from the mild stresses of handling and saline injection through to chronic endotoxin challenge. Further studies indicated that the food intake of the animals had compounding effects on parameters of the immune response, including modulation of the synthesis of acute phase proteins in the liver. Vitamin E status was also able to modulate the effects of food restriction, with deficiency potentiating lung inflammation and supplementation suppressing the parameters at the lowest level of food intake.
Thus, disease states which have been linked to excessive levels or inappropriate production of cytokines and free radicals may be able to be controlled by modulation of inflammation by the vitamin E content of the subjects diet. In addition, smokers may benefit from increased intakes of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E.
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