The Impact of Antioxidant Supplementation on Improving Antioxidant Status among Egyptian Porcelain Workers Exposed to Benzene

Khadiga S. Ibrahim1 and Zeinab A. Saleh2

1 Department of Environmental & Occupational Medicine, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
2 Department of Food Sci. & Nutrition, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt

Corresponding author: Dr. Khadiga Salah Ibrahim, Professor of Biochemistry
    Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine,
    National Research Center
    Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
    Fax number: 00202-3370931
    E-mail: Khadigasalah@yahoo.com

CEJOEM 2007, Vol.13. No.3-4.: 277-285

Key words:
Benzene exposure, antioxidant enzymes, vitamins, minerals, supplementation

Abstract:
This study aims to assess the antioxidant status of Egyptian workers occupationally exposed to the inhalation of benzene in porcelain industry. The protective role of pharmaceutical preparation based on capsules containing vitamins A, C & E and the trace elements selenium and zinc was studied as well. The study material consisted of 33 porcelain workers and 33 age-matched controls. Baseline data included blood analysis of selected blood indicators of antioxidant status of the body. They included the determinations of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), carotenoids; vitamins A, C and E; copper; selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) and the erythocytic reduced glutathione (GSH), enzyme activities catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD).
    An intervention program was then initiated and the porcelain workers administered daily the capsules for 30 days. At the termination of the supplementation period, blood samples were collected for analysis of the biomarkers indicated above.
    The results demonstrated that at baseline, plasma MDA was significantly higher compared to the respective mean value obtained among the control group. On the other hand, the mean GSH, and the activities of catalase and SOD were significantly lower than the respective mean values obtained among the controls. Similar trend was found with the plasma levels of vitamins A, C, E, and Se and Zn.
    The 30 day administration of the pharmaceutical preparation to the porcelain workers corrected all the studied biochemical parameters and the mean values were quite overlapping with those of the controls. In conclusion, porcelain workers are potentially at high risk of lipid peroxide (LPO) induced injuries. Rigid preventive measures should be undertaken to minimize exposure to benzene with concomitant monitoring of their health status and prophylactic intervention with antioxidant vitamin and trace element supplementation.

Received: 8 October 2007
Accepted: 30 March 2008
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