Abstract

Background and aim: Enhanced oxidative stress has been described in adults who suffer from symptoms of asthma and poor lung function. This study assessed the relation between markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status and lung function, symptoms of asthma, atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in young adults. Methods: A sub-sample of 589 individuals aged 22-28 years, selected from a total of 1232 included in a survey assessing early and current risk factors for chronic diseases, participated in the study. Participants were from an agricultural area of Chile, responded to a Spanish version of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire, were skin tested to eight allergens, and challenged with methacholine to assess BHR. Five hundred and eighty-five individuals had measures of plasma biomarkers ferric reducing ability of plasma, uric acid, protein carbonyls and 564 had 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a (8-iso-PGF2a) assessed. Results: All participants had detectable plasma 8-iso-PGF2a and carbonyl levels. There was no indication for an association between markers of antioxidant status or oxidative stress with any of the outcomes studied. Conclusion: The levels of oxidative stress-related biomarkers and antioxidant status in plasma may not be related to asthma in the general population in the absence of more severe symptoms or exacerbations. © 2009 The Authors.