beta-carotene and Bronchitis

To investigate the protective effects of beta-carotene in rats against the development of chronic bronchitis induced by cigarette smoking.. Forty-two Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three study groups: (1) control (n = 15), animals underwent no treatment; (2) cigarette smoking (n = 15), animals developed chronic bronchitis through long-term cigarette smoking twice a day for 75 d; (3) beta-carotene plus cigarette smoking animals (n = 12) were given 1 ml or 15 mg/kg beta-carotene orally every day just before cigarette smoking. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, NO, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipoperoxide (LPO) in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were measured and the pathological changes to lung tissue were analyzed using light microscopy.. Long-term cigarette smoking caused an obvious increase in the amount of IL-6, IL-8 and LPO and a sharp decrease in the levels of NO and SOD in smoking animals compared to controls. beta-carotene intake reversed all the changes induced by smoking and alleviated the pathological changes caused by chronic bronchitis.. Quantitative oral intake of beta-carotene had protective effects against chronic bronchitis induced by long-term cigarette smoking, which was associated with the increased production of NO, the clearance of some oxidative free radicals (OFR) and the alleviation of chronic inflammation.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Bronchitis; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Male; Nitric Oxide; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Smoking; Superoxide Dismutase

The effects of alpha-tocopherol (50 mg/d) and beta-carotene (20 mg/d) supplementation on symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were studied among the 29,133 participants of the Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study undertaken to investigate the effects of these two substances in the prevention of lung and other cancers. During the follow-up the supplementations did not affect the recurrence or incidence of chronic cough, phlegm, or dyspnea. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis and dyspnea at baseline was lower among those with high dietary intake of beta-carotene (OR = 0.78 and 0.67, respectively) or vitamin E (OR = 0.87 and 0.77) and high serum beta-carotene (OR = 0.59 and 0.62) and alpha-tocopherol (OR = 0.76 and 0.82). High intake and serum levels of retinol were associated with low prevalence of dyspnea (OR = 0.84 and 0.80, respectively) but not with chronic bronchitis. The results indicate no benefit from supplementation with alpha-tocopherol or beta-carotene on the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders but support the beneficial effect of dietary intake of fruits and vegetables rich in these compounds.

Topics: Aged; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Bronchitis; Cough; Dietary Supplements; Dyspnea; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Middle Aged; Vitamin A; Vitamin E

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Bronchitis; Carbon; Carotenoids; Diamond; Humans; Middle Aged; Mining; Siberia; Silicosis; Vitamin A