Oxidative stress and non-enzymic antioxidant status in hypertensive patients in Nigeria

• Published in: African journal of biotechnology Vol. 6; no. 14; pp. 1681 - 1684
• Main Authors: Nwanjo, HU, Oze, G, Oka, M C, Nwosu, D, Nwankpa, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 18.07.2007
• ISSN: 1684-5315; 1684-5315

Oxidative stress and non-enzymic antioxidant status in plasma of hypertensive patients in Nigeria were investigated. One hundred and fifty hypertensive patients (82 males and 68 females) age range 55 - 75 years visiting Federal Medical Centre, Owerri were selected for the study. Controls were 120 apparently healthy subjects (66 males and 54 females) age range 55 - 75 years. Patients with complication such as renal diseases, viral and bacterial infections were excluded from the study. In The hypertensive patients presented significantly higher mean values of plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triacyl-glycerols and reduced HDL-cholesterol and phospholipids (p < 0.05). The result of plasma lipid peroxide was significantly higher in hypertensive patients (p < 0.05). Also the levels of non-enzymic antioxidants such as Vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione in plasma were significantly depleted in the hypertensive patients (p < 0.05). This study shows that hypertension is associated with increased oxidative stress and depleted non-enzymic antioxidant status even in developing countries like Nigeria.