Serum ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol levels in bidi smokers and tobacco chewers

Aim: To assess serum ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol levels in bidi smokers, tobacco chewers and tobacco nonusers. Materials and Methods: Forty smokers [25 subjects smoking ≤24 bidi /day (moderate) and 15 subjects smoking > 24 bidi/day (heavy) with a smoking habit of > 10 years, 20 subjects tobacco chewers ≥10 g tobacco/day) chewing for > 10 years] were included in the study.All selected subjects were normal with no symptoms of any disease. They were classified on the basis of age, BMI and with and without alcohol consuming habit. Serum ascorbic acid was measured by dinitrophenyl hydrazine reagent and alpha-tocopherol by ferric chloride oxidation. Result: Serum ascorbic acid levels in moderate smokers, heavy smokers, tobacco chewers and control,were 0.31 - +0.13, 0.26+0-.16, 0.40+0.2-6 and 0.50+-0.09.In the respective group’s alpha-tocopherol levels were 0.674±0.46, 0.94±0.43, 0.95±0.61 and 1.39±0.73.Conclusion: Both bidi smoking and tobacco chewing decreased ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol levels. No discernible trends were found with BMI and alcohol