DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i02.076

Pages: 853-858

Asthma is a complex, chronic inflammatory lung disease that may result in alterations in various anti oxidants. In this study superoxide dismutase (SOD), Vitamins C and E, Zinc, Copper and Magnesium were estimated using standard procedures in spirometry proven asthmatics selected at random. Ninety two (n=92) asthmatics, forty nine (n=49) females with mean age 33.98 ±11.52 standard deviation and forty three (n=43) males with mean age 35.91±12.88 between the ages of 16-70 years were enrolled and thirty healthy subjects (n=30), out of which nine (9) females with mean age 31.25±10.77 and twenty one (21) males with mean age 31.05±12.95 were taken as controls. Significant differences have been observed between the control and patient data for FEV1, FVC, FEV/FVC, PEF and Zn. Higher SOD value (19.92%) and lower Vit-C value (13.59%) have been observed in patients compared to control. The value of Vit-E has been increased to 2.06 times in patient data when compared to control. No significant difference for Cu (p=0.829), and Mg (p=0.277) has been observed in patient and control groups. Zn and Cu have been increased to 21.55% and 72.67% respectively in the samples of patients; while 10.81 % decrease in the amount of Mg in the samples of patients has been estimated compared to the samples of control. Discrimination between control and patient groups was evolved by principal component analysis. (PCA) The effects of asthma on antioxidant status showed significant alterations in exogenous antioxidants including Vit-E and Zn. Endogenous antioxidant SOD increase in asthmatics showed changes in antioxidant defenses.