Oxidant stress and B vitamins status in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

In this study, we examined oxidative stress and B vitamins status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients at different stages. NSCLC patients were divided into 2 groups, stage III (IIIA + IIIB, n = 27) and stage IV (n = 23). A total of 16 healthy control subjects were included for comparison. Plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, vitamin C, Se, Cu, Zn, reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), lipid oxidation and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and xanthine oxidase (XO) were determined for evaluating oxidative status in these subjects. B vitamins (B(1), B(2), B(6), B(12), folate) in blood and plasma ghrelin level in these subjects were analyzed. Results showed that plasma level of ghrelin and lipid oxidation in NSCLC patients were significantly greater than control groups (P < 0.05). The activity of GPX, SOD, or catalase was significantly reduced, but XO activity was significantly elevated in NSCLC patients (P < 0.05). Plasma level of GSH was significantly lower, but GSSG level was significantly increased in NSCLC patients (P < 0.05). Vitamins B(2) and B(6) levels in red blood cells (RBC) from NSCLC patients were significantly lower (P < 0.05), and both were negatively correlated with plasma ghrelin. The correlation coefficients were -0.788 and -0.752, respectively. These data suggest that plasma GSH level may be a proper biomarker for evaluating oxidation status for NSCLC patients. RBC levels of vitamins B2 and B6 were reduced in NSCLC patients; thus, the importance of vitamins B(2) and B(6) for NSCLC patients could not be ignored.