Smoking and the antioxidant ascorbic acid: Plasma, leukocyte, and cervicovaginal cell concentrations in normal healthy women

doi:10.1016/0002-9378(90)90779-7

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Volume 163, Issue 6, Part 1, December 1990, Pages 1948-1952

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(90)90779-7 Get rights and content

Abstract

The influence of cigarette smoking on the plasma, leukocyte, and cervicovaginal cell ascorbic acid levels in 46 healthy smokers and healthy nonsmokers was investigated. Coded peripheral venous blood and cervicovaginal lavage specimens obtained after informed consent were analyzed simultaneously for their ascorbic acid content. The findings suggest that smoking affects the levels and distribution of ascorbic acid. In smokers (n = 16), the number of exfoliated cervicovaginal epithelial cells and leukocyte ascorbic acid levels was significantly higher (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively) compared with nonsmokers (n = 30). In addition, cervicovaginal cell ascorbic acid, plasma reduced and total ascorbic acid levels were significantly lower (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). The exfoliated epithelial cell ascorbic acid levels in nonsmokers was fourfold greater than that of leukocytes. The implications of these findings within the context of free radical-induced cellular pertubations in smokers are discussed.

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2002, Preventive Medicine
Background. An elevated risk for coronary artery disease and lung cancer was reported for smokers and nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Particularly in nonsmokers, in addition to the adverse effects of tobacco smoke, other factors which are associated with the exposure to environmental tobacco smoke may contribute to the health risks. We investigated both by questionnaires and biochemical analyses whether smokers influence the dietary habits of nonsmokers living in the same household.
Methods. The study population was a subgroup of the Prevention Education Program in Nuremberg: 817 adults aged 27–66 years were allocated to one of the four groups: Nonsmokers living with a nonsmoker (Group 1), nonsmokers living with a smoker (Group 2), smokers living with a nonsmoker (Group 3), and smokers living with a smoker (Group 4).
Results. The four groups did not differ in the body mass index, the concentration of lycopene, all-trans-retinol, and selenium in plasma. Plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine, cobalamin, folate, β-carotene, and α-tocopherol showed a gradient to unfavorable levels from Group 1 to Group 4. This trend was also reflected in the reported dietary intake of β-carotene, α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, fiber, and linoleic acid.
Conclusions. Our data show that nonsmokers living with smokers indulge in less healthy dietary habits than nonsmokers living with nonsmokers. This has to be considered when evaluating the health risks of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
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Objectives: We investigated whether oxidative stress is associated with human uterine cervicitis and uterine myoma.
Design and Methods: We measured lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in plasma and erythrocytes of cervicitis patients and myoma patients in comparison with matched controls. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), a measure of lipid peroxidation, were determined in plasma; glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase in erythrocytes; and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in both plasma and erythrocytes.
Results: We showed that plasma TBARS were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in both cervicitis patients and myoma patients than in controls. Plasma TBARS were significantly (and negatively) correlated with plasma and erythrocyte T-SOD activities in cervicitis patients only. Plasma T-SOD activity was significantly lower in both groups of patients than in controls whereas erythrocyte T-SOD activity was only significantly lower in myoma patients. The lowered plasma T-SOD activity in the cervicitis patients was attributed to decreased Mn-SOD activity whereas the lowered plasma T-SOD activity in myoma patients was attributed to decreased activities of both Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. Erythrocyte GSHPx activity was 14% higher (p < 0.05) in cervicitis patients and 11% lower (p > 0.05) in myoma patients than in controls; catalase activity was 10% higher (p > 0.05) in cervicitis patients and 13% lower (p > 0.05) in myoma patients than in controls. Neither erythrocyte GSHPx nor catalase activity was significantly correlated with plasma TBARS.
Conclusions: The elevated lipid peroxidation and disturbed antioxidant enzyme activities demonstrate the potential of oxidative injury in patients with uterine cervicitis and myoma.
Maternal risk factors in fetal alcohol syndrome: Provocative and permissive influences
1995, Neurotoxicology and Teratology
We present an hypothesis integrating epidemiological, clinical case, and basic biomedical research to explain why only relatively few women who drink alcohol during pregnancy give birth to children with alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs), in particular, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). We argue that specific sociobehavioral risk factors, e.g., low socioeconomic status, are permissive for FAS in that they provide the context for increased vulnerability. We illustrate how these permissive factors are related to biological factors, e.g., decreased antioxidant status, which in conjunction with alcohol, provoke FAS/ARBDs in vulnerable fetuses. We propose an integrative heuristic model hypothesizing that these permissive and provocative factors increase the likelihood of FAS/ARBDs because they potentiate two related mechanisms of alcohol-induced teratogenesis, specifically, maternal/fetal hypoxia and free radical formation.
Effect of nicotine on proliferation of normal, malignant, and human papillomavirus-transformed human cervical cells
1994, Gynecologic Oncology
Nicotine is concentrated in the cervical mucus of smokers relative to serum levels. In this experiment, the effect of nicotine on cellular proliferation of human ectocervical, endocervical, malignant, and human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 DNA-transformed cervical cell lines was studied. Ectocervical and endocervical cell lines were derived from benign hysterectomy specimens and cultured in keratinocyte growth medium. HPV 16 DNA-transformed cell lines were derived through transfection of ectocervical cells with cloned HPV 16 DNA. HPV-transformed lines and malignant cell lines established from three women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer were maintained in E-media with 5% fetal calf serum. Cells (2500-5000) were cultured in 96-well tissue culture plates with varying concentrations of nicotine (100 to 10 mg/ml) and proliferation was assessed 72 hr later with a semiautomated colorimetric assay. Experiments were performed three times and proliferation of nicotine-exposed cells was compared to unexposed cells with one-way analysis of variance. Nicotine, at 100 ug/ml to 10 μg/ml, significantly stimulated epithelial cell growth in two ectocervical and three HPV DNA-transformed cell lines (proliferation 118-180% of control, P < .05). Nicotine at 100 ng/ml to 10 μg/ml did not significantly alter proliferation of four endocervical, three malignant, and two other ectocervical cell lines. Toxic effects of nicotine (>50% inhibition of cellular proliferation) were noted between 100 μg/ml and 10 mg/ml and exceed the concentrations of nicotine reported in smoker's cervical mucus. These findings demonstrate that nicotine, in physiologically attainable concentrations, does not impair and occasionally enhances the proliferation of human cervical cells in vitro. The selective mitogenic effect noted among normal ectocervical and HPV-transformed ectocervical cells may relate to epidemiologic studies showing, among smokers, an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, and not adenocarcinoma, of the cervix.
Preeclampsia and antioxidant nutrients: Decreased plasma levels of reduced ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and beta-carotene in women with preeclampsia
1994, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Objective: Our purpose was to investigate the plasma levels of three potent antioxidant nutrients in women with preeclampsia.
Study Design: Fasting venous blood samples were collected from 30 women with preeclampsia and from 44 women with uncomplicated pregnancies. The criteria for recruitment included age 15 to 35 years, gestational age 28 to 42 weeks, singleton pregnancy, intact membranes, absence of labor contractions, and absence of any other medical complication concurrent with preeclampsia. Reduced ascorbic acid, a-tocopherol, and beta-carotene levels were assayed with high-pressure liquid chromatography.
Results: Plasma levels of reduced ascorbic acid were significantly decreased in patients with mild and severe preeclampsia (p < 0.01). Plasma α-tocopherol and beta-carotene levels were significantly decreased only in severe preeclampsia compared with controls (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively).
Conclusion: In patients with preeclampsia antioxidant nutrients may be utilized to a greater extent to counteract free radical-mediated cell disturbances, resulting in a reduction in antioxidant plasma levels. Walter-soluble antioxidant nutrients may initially be consumed, followed by lipid-soluble antioxidants.
Factors influencing the exfoliation of cervicovaginal epithelial cells
1992, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the association of smoking and exfoliation of cervicovaginal epithelial cells while controlling for other factors that may potentially influence cell exfoliation (e.g., presence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or koilocytes, the use of oral contraceptives, age, and the phase of the menstrual cycle).
STUDY DESIGN: Cervicovaginal lavage specimens and epidemiologic questionnaires were obtained with informed consent from 190 women. The cervicovaginal lavage samples were processed to separate other contaminants. The number of squamous epithelial cells counted was expressed as cells per milliliter of lavage.
RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the number of exfoliated epithelial cells was significantly higher in smokers (p \lt 0.01) and also in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (p \lt 0.05). The other studied variables had no detectable effect.
CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that smoking or the presence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia may induce an acceleration in the exfoliation of cervicovaginal epithelial cells. This may alter cell maturation and may be a factor in the oncogenic process. (AM J OBSTET GYNECOL 1992;167:1904-9.)

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Supported in part by the Friends of Gynecology Cancer Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and a grant-in-aid from Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Nutley, New Jersey.

Presented at the Thirty-seventh Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, St. Louis, Missouri, March 21-24, 1990.

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Smoking and the antioxidant ascorbic acid: Plasma, leukocyte, and cervicovaginal cell concentrations in normal healthy women

Abstract

Contraception

AM J Obstet Gynecol

Blood

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Cervix cancer and cigarette smoking: a case controlled study

Am J Epidemiol

Cigarette smoking and dysplasia and carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix

JAMA

Cigarette smoking and cancer of the uterine cervix

Br J Cancer

Smoking and carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix

Am J Public Health

Smoking and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: an association independent of sexual and other risk factors?

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand

Cigarette smoke and the involvement of free radicals in chemical carcinogenesis

Br J Cancer

Cigarette smoking and neoplasia of the uterine cervix: smoke constituents in cervical mucus

N Engl J Med

Mutagenic mucus in the cervix of smokers

JNCI

Cigarette smoking and invasive cervical cancer

JAMA

Plama reduced and total ascorbic acid in human uterine cervix dysplasias and cancer

Ann N Y Acad Sci

Decrease R-carotene tissue levels in uterine leiomyomas and cancers of reproductive and nonreproductive organs

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Measurements of ascorbic acid and glutathione in exfoliated cervicovaginal epithelial cells of smokers and women with cervical dysplasias

Gynecol Obstet Invest