Gender difference in systemic oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in current and former heavy smokers.

Background: Several studies suggested that women may be more susceptible to oxidative damage induced by cigarette smoking, but the role of smoking status and antioxidant capacity in gender difference in susceptibility to oxidative damage has not been well studied.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from 146 current and former heavy smokers enrolled in a chemoprevention trial to determine the gender difference in oxidative damage and antioxidant capacity. Oxidative DNA and lipid damage were assessed by urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) and 8-isoprostaglandin F(2α) (8-iso-PGF(2α)), respectively.

Modulation of human glutathione s-transferases by polyphenon e intervention.

Purpose: Green tea consumption has been associated with decreased risk of certain types of cancers in humans. Induction of detoxification enzymes has been suggested as one of the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the cancer-preventive effect of green tea. We conducted this clinical study to determine the effect of repeated green tea polyphenol administration on a major group of detoxification enzymes, glutathione S-transferases (GST).