PURPOSE: To study the antioxidant status of human tears, stimulated by onion fumes and the possible influence of the life habits thereon were measured. METHODS: Subjects were ten healthy young adults, who answered a questionnaire about smoking, alcohol ingestion, fruit, vegetable, cereal, and vitamin intake and/or intake of other drugs, and physical exercise habits. Chemoluminescensce of luminol was used to analyze the total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP), inhibition of piragollol was used to measure superoxide dismutase (SOD) and absorbance of H2O2 at 240 nm was used to identify catalase. RESULTS: Mean ± SD value for total reactive antioxidant potential was 33.8±11.5 µM and for superoxide dismutase 10.8±1.9 U/mL. Catalase was not identified. Regular exercise was associated with increased total reactive antioxidant potential values (p=0.021), with a difference of 18.6 µM between individuals who exercise at least once a week and sedentary individuals. Male gender and total reactive antioxidant potential values were statistically associated (p=0.013), with a difference of 16.3 µM between genders. There was an association between smoking and increased superoxide dismutase values (p=0.041), with a difference of 3.3 U/mL between smokers of more than five cigarettes/day and non-smokers. Also, vitamin C intake and superoxide dismutase values were associated (p=0.018); the difference for vitamin C takers was 3.3 U/mL. CONCLUSION: Reflex tearing antioxidants were measurable in healthy young adults, and different variables apparently influenced their values.
Free radicals; Eye; Tears; Oxidative stress; Superoxide dismutase; Antioxidants; Ascorbic acid
