Primary studies on heroin abuse and injury induced by oxidation and lipoperoxidation

Objective To further reveal serious risks of heroin abuse to human body and clarify grave injuries of oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals to heroin abusers.Methods Determined and compared plasma levels of nitric oxide (P-NO), vitamin C (P-VC) , vitamin E (P-VE), β-carotene (P-β-CAR), lipoperoxides (P-LPO) a nd eryt hrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase (E-SOD), catalase (E-CAT), glutathi one peroxidase (E-GSH-Px) and erythrocyte level of lipoperoxides (E-LPO) in 1 37 cases of heroin abusers (HAs) and 100 cases of healthy volunteers (HVs), used linear regression and correlation, stepwise regression and correlation to analy ze correlation among heroin-abusing-duration (HAD), daily-heroin-abusing-qu antity (DHAQ) with above determination values in the HAs. Results Compared with the above average values in the HVs group, the average values of P -NO, P-LPO, E-LPO in the HAs group were significantly increased (P<0 .000 1), the average values of P-VC, P-VE, P-β-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GS H-P x were significantly decreased (P<0.0001); the analysis of linear regressio n and correlation showed that with ascending of the HAD and DHAQ in the HAs, the values of P-NO, P-LPO, E-LPO were gradually increased (P<0.0001), t he values of P-VC, P-VE, P-β-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT, E-GSH-Px were gradu ally dec reased (P<0.0001); the analysis of stepwise regression and correlation sugg ested that the correlation among the HAD, DHAQ with the values of P-NO, P-VC, P-VE was the closest.Conclusion The balance between oxidation and antioxidation in the HAs was seriously destroy ed, and the injuries induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals, oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation reactions to the body of HAs gravely exacerba ted. In the abstaining from heroin dependence, therefore, it should consider th at sufficient quantum antioxidants such as VC, VE and β-CAR are dosed to the H As so as to abate the injuries to their bodies.