Effect of vitamin C on lipidperoxidation and antioxidant status in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND

Vitamin C is a water-soluble chain-breaking antioxidant that has beneficial effects on lipid-metabolizing enzymes. In the present study, the level of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) substances and antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase were assayed.

METHODS

The level of TBA substances and antioxidant enzymes was determined in plasma and RBC hemolysates, respectively, in 60 postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

RESULTS

The data obtained from the study revealed that the levels of TBA and the antioxidant enzymes catalase, SOD, glutathine peroxidase and glutathine-S-transferse were significantly normalized by vitamin C treatment in the RBC hemolysate.

CONCLUSION

The results compared vitamin C-treated breast cancer patients with normal individuals and showed that co-administration of vitamin C is more beneficial in breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen.