Oxidative stress in lymphocytes, neutrophils, and serum of oral cavity cancer patients: modulatory array of L-glutamine.

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to assess the oxidative stress and ameliorative effect of L-glutamine in serum, neutrophils, and lymphocytes of oral cancer patients by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study has been conducted on serum and specific blood cells in adult, male oral cancer patients (stage III-6, stage IV-42) and normal subjects of an equal number of age and sex-matched disease-free healthy subjects. The levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes were assayed using spectrophotometric methods.

RESULTS

MDA levels were elevated, and antioxidant enzyme status was decreased significantly in all groups of cancer patients simultaneously, but after supplementation of "glutammune" (66.66% L-glutamine), oxidative stress has been alleviated to some extent; especially, it has repaired the glutathione cascade system.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that oxidative stress is due to the enhanced lipid peroxidation and decrease in antioxidant enzymes, and it can be restored with dietary supplementation of L-glutamine related drug.