Protective Effects of Vitamin C against Cigarette Smoke-Induced Oxidative Stress and Dyslipidemia in Adult Male Wistar Rats

GEORGE ET, BAKRE OA and ADENUGA AE

Published on: 2024-03-05

Abstract

Cigarette smoking poses severe health risks, being a major cause of illness and death. Research links smoking to cancer and high concentrations of free radicals in cigarette smoke, leading to oxidative stress and damage. The study explores serum lipid profiles—total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde activity) in rats exposed to cigarette smoke, assessing the protective effects of vitamin C. In this study, 18 healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Group a received fresh air exposure, Group B was exposed to cigarette smoke, and Group C was exposed to cigarette smoke along with 300 mg/kg of vitamin C. The rats were exposed to cigarette smoke for two hours daily over 30 days. Blood was collected from the orbital venous sinus, and the fasting lipid profile, including triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, and LDL, was analyzed. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by estimating malondialdehyde activity. Results were expressed as expressed as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM) and analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnet post-hoc test. Differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. The results of this study shows that Cigarette smoke exposure significantly increases malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to the control (Group A). However, in the vitamin C-treated group (Group C), MDA levels decrease significantly, indicating an ameliorative effect. Also, vitamin C reduces dyslipidemia induced by cigarette smoke. Cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels are elevated in smoke-exposed Group B, but significantly reduced in vitamin C-treated Group C. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels increase significantly in Group C, demonstrating the protective impact of vitamin C.