EVALUATION OF THE LEVEL OF VITAMIN C, VITAMIN E AND MALONDIALDEHYDE IN MALE SMOKERS AND NON SMOKERS.

EVALUATION OF THE LEVEL OF VITAMIN C, VITAMIN E AND MALONDIALDEHYDE IN MALE SMOKERS AND NON SMOKERS.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Tobacco smoking is the process of burning tobacco and breathing the resulting smoke (which contains gaseous phases and particles). A broader description could include inhaling tobacco smoke and then exhaling it, as some people do with tobacco pipes and cigars.

The practice could have originated as early as 5000-3000 BC (Nagarajet al., 2014). Cigarette smoking is most likely the most addicting and addictive type of self-administered enjoyment that man has ever experienced. According to current estimates, tobacco is responsible for around 5 million fatalities per year (World Health Organisation, 2008).

Cigarette smoking’s detrimental consequences on human health are extensively documented. Cigarette smoke is reported to include around 4000 compounds, including hazardous metals, harmful gases, and free radicals (Schumacher et al. 2009).

Among these constituents, free radicals are thought to be the most hazardous since they are highly reactive and can induce oxidative damage to biomolecules and biomembranes (Senet al., 2010).

Smoking significantly disrupts the antioxidant equilibrium. Normally, blood includes a healthy complement of antioxidants that reduce oxidative damage.

Tobacco smoke contains an abundance of reactive oxygen species, and activated neutrophils generated as a result of smoking contribute to the pool of reactive oxygen species, depleting these antioxidant mechanisms and causing tissue damage (Kumaret al., 2010).

Malondialdehyde is an organic molecule that has the formula CH2 (CHO). This reactive species occurs spontaneously and is a sign of oxidative stress.