Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Tobacco smoke exposure increases oxidative stress and is related to respiratory diseases. Volatile organic compounds - VOC- (aldehydes and organic acids) in exhaled breath might be biochemical markers of oxidative stress and smoking habit.
AIMS
To determine if there exists an association between specific VOC and the smoking habit of healthy subjects.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Observational case-control study in healthy volunteers, divided into three groups: smokers, ex -smokers and non-smokers (according to SEPAR criteria) with normal spirometry and no evidence of respiratory disease. Breath samples were collected via a BioVOC container after a residual functional capacity maneuver. We analized six VOC (hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, propionic acid and nonanoic acid). Biochemical analysis was performed by TD/GC/MS (Markes-Agilent Tech). We used the SPSS® v-15 for Windows for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
We included 89 healthy subjects with a mean age of 49.3 years. 42 male, 47 female. 30 were smokers, 24 ex-smokers and 35 non-smokers. The pack-year index was 30.9 (18.6) in smokers and 26.5 (21.6) in ex-smokers.
Only nonanal showed statistical differences between the three groups (p 0.04). After dividing into tobacco-exposure (smokers and ex-smokers) and non tobacco exposure group, we also observed a statistical difference (p 0.019).
There were no differences after stratification analysis for age and gender (male r 0.05, p 0.753, female r 0.081, p 0.588), and
between the nonanal concentration and the amount of tobacco smoked.
CONCLUSIONS
Nonanal could be a marker of oxidative stress in smokers and ex – smokers.
We observed no association with age, gender or amount of tobacco consumption.
- © 2014 ERS