Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress in claudicants

Background. Low-grade ischemia–reperfusion in claudicants leads to damage of local tissues and remote organs. Since this damage is partly caused by oxygen-derived free radicals (ODFR), scavenging these ODFR could reduce the local and remote injury. Methods. Using a new method by which a free radical reaction product (ortho-APOH) of the exogenous marker antipyrine is measured to quantify the oxidative stress, 16 stable claudicants performed a standard walking test before and after administration of vitamin E (200 mg) and vitamin C (500 mg) daily for 4 weeks. Findings. Ortho-APOH was significantly increased during the reperfusion period (P = 0.026) before administration of the vitamins. After 4 weeks of vitamin supplementation no rise was found in the reperfusion period. Malondialdehyde showed no changes in either group. Interpretation. These findings indicate that administering extra antioxidants to claudicants reduces oxidative stress in these patients. This may also have an effect on the remote ischemia–reperfusion damage and reduce cardiovascular morbidity in this group. Author Keywords: ischemia–reperfusion; vitamin E; vitamin C; antipyrine; intermittent claudication; malondialdehyde