Effect of low-dose aspirin on the markers of oxidative stress

The present study estimates effects of low-dose enteric coated aspirin (ECA) on oxidative stress (OS) markers in a group of middle-aged men (mean age 51.2 +/- 6.9 years) free of pre-existing ischemic heart disease. Methods. Serum products of lipid peroxidation, and measures of antioxidative status were detected in 25 healthy men in baseline and after two-week treatment period. Results. In respect to serum products of lipid peroxidation and markers of antioxidant status, no statistically significant differences between the pre- and after-treatment data were observed for any measures, with the exception of values of serum antioxidative capacity (39.0 +/- 2.5 and 42 +/- 4.6, respectively). Conclusions. Administration of ECA does not initiate the OS in blood and improves the general antioxidative potency of blood. This may imply towards certain antiatherogenic influence of low-dose ECA, exhibited even with a short-term treatment period. Regarding OS markers, a variety of individual responses observed in the selected subgroups should be investigated and possibly taken into account while treatment with ECA is initiated for primary prevention of cerebrovascular events.