Both active and passive smoking are regarded as risk factors for various diseases. To clarify the effects of active and passive smoking on plasma vitamin C levels and lipid peroxidation status, we examined the plasma levels of ascorbic acid (AA), its redox status [ratio of dehydroascorbate (DHAA) to total AA], the levels of thiobarbiturate reactive substance (TBARS), and the levels of Lipid peroxides (LPO) in smokers, nonsmokers, and nonsmokers regularly exposed to environmental cigarette smoke (passive smokers). The study population consisted of 149 healthy males: 75 active smokers (consumption of > 15 cigarettes/day for more than 5 years), 36 passive smokers (more than 10 hr/week exposure to environmental cigarette smoke), and 38 nonsmokers (no cigarette smoke exposure). There were no significant differences in plasma TEARS and LPO levels among the three groups. Plasma levels of AA, the reduced form of vitamin C, were significantly lower in active smokers than in the combined nonsmoking groups (7.2 +/- 3.5 and 8.4 +/- 3.4 mu g/mL, respectively; p < 0.05). Although no significant differences were found in plasma DHAA levels among the three groups, the ratios of DHAA to total AA were significantly higher in active and passive smokers than nonexposed nonsmokers (11.2, 10.3, and 7.1%, respectively; p < 0.05). These results indicate that passive smoking, as well as direct inhalation of cigarette smoke, affects the redox status of plasma AA. In passive smokers, the altered redox status of plasma AA suggests an oxidative stress.
