Oxidative stress in stable CF patients: do we need higher antioxidant plasma levels?

Increased oxidative stress is well known in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. Studies still address the question if CF patients need higher antioxidant plasma concentrations than healthy subjects. Objective: To assess if “normal” values of plasma antioxidants counterbalance adequately oxidative stress in stable CF patients with or w/o pancreatic insufficiency (p.i). 70 patients were recruited during a routine visit in our CF Regional Center (32M/38F, median age 7.8, 36/70 with p.i.) whose 91% with vitamin supplementation. Red-ox status as: plasma or erythrocytes antioxidants: vit. E, A, C, selenium (Se), reduced (GSH) and oxidised (GSSG) glutathione, GSHPx; lipid oxidation markers: chromolipids (MDA and HNE aldehydes). Conclusions: “Normal” antioxidant plasma levels do not provide adequate control on oxidative stress markers that are directly correlated with aging, pancreatic insufficiency and indirectly correlated with plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins.