Antioxidants and lipid peroxidation status in the blood of patients with alopecia

Cell Biochem Funct. 2000 Sep;18(3):169-73. doi: 10.1002/1099-0844(200009)18:3<169::AID-CBF870>3.0.CO;2-T.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine levels in blood of vitamin E, beta-carotene, lipid peroxidation as thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in patients with alopecia. Studies were carried out on 37 patients with alopecia and 34 healthy age-matched controls. Red blood cell (RBC) and plasma samples from healthy and patient subjects were taken. Beta-cartotene levels (P<0. 001) in plasma and levels of GSH (P>0.05) and the activity of GSH-Px (P<0.05, P<0.01) in both plasma and RBC samples were significantly lower in patients with alopecia than in controls, whereas TBARS levels in plasma (P<0.05) and RBC (P<0.001) samples were significantly higher in patients with alopecia than in controls. However, vitamin E levels in plasma did not differ statistically. Although being far from conclusive, these results provide some evidence for a potential role of increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidants in alopecia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alopecia / blood*
  • Antioxidants / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Glutathione / blood
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / blood
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation*
  • Lipid Peroxides / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism
  • Vitamin E / blood
  • beta Carotene / blood

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Lipid Peroxides
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • beta Carotene
  • Vitamin E
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Glutathione