Influence of smoking behavior in relation to plasma retinol and alpha-tocopherol on sister chromatid exchanges in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the contribution of various individual characteristics and lifestyle factors on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). These also included associations between plasma retinol and alpha-tocopherol and SCE frequencies. The study population consisted of 50 healthy, smoking and nonsmoking, male and female volunteers, ages 22-49. SCE frequencies in PBLs were significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers. SCE frequencies correlated with variables of smoking habits and history, with the number of pack-years smoked correlating most strongly (r = 0.501; P < 0.001). Inverse but nonsignificant correlations were observed between plasma retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels and SCE frequencies in PBLs. In addition, with the use of multiple regression analysis, significant associations were found with age and possible occupational exposure after adjustment for smoking habits (r2 = 0.428; P = 0.0001). For males (n = 20), SCE frequencies were found to be associated significantly with the number of cigarettes smoked per day and possible occupational exposure (r2 = 0.485; P < 0.01). SCE frequencies in PBLs of females (n = 30) were associated positively with the number of pack-years smoked and age, and significantly inversely correlated with plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations (r2 = 0.586; P = 0.0001). After exclusion of possible occupationally exposed persons (n = 8) from the study population and adjustment for the effects of age and smoking behavior, a weak inverse correlation was found between plasma alpha-tocopherol and SCE frequencies (r = -0.286; P = 0.0732).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)