The interaction of cigarette smoking and antioxidants. Part I: diet and carotenoids

Altern Med Rev. 2002 Oct;7(5):370-88.

Abstract

It is logical that the requirement for antioxidant nutrients depends on a person's exposure to endogenous and exogenous reactive oxygen species. Since cigarette smoking results in an increased cumulative exposure to reactive oxygen species from both sources, it would seem cigarette smokers would have an increased requirement for antioxidant nutrients. Logic dictates that a diet high in antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and spices would be both protective and a prudent preventive strategy for smokers. This review examines available evidence of fruit and vegetable intake, and supplementation of antioxidant compounds by smokers in an attempt to make more appropriate nutritional recommendations to this population.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
  • Antioxidants / adverse effects
  • Biomarkers
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Food-Drug Interactions
  • Fruit*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Smoking* / adverse effects
  • Smoking* / metabolism
  • Vegetables*
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin A / adverse effects
  • beta Carotene / administration & dosage*
  • beta Carotene / adverse effects
  • beta Carotene / pharmacokinetics

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biomarkers
  • beta Carotene
  • Vitamin A