[The effect of antioxidant therapy on indicators of activity of free radicals in workers exposed to risks of styrene].

To 30 workers exposed to the risk of styrene for a period of 30 days a mixture of antioxidants was administered: vitamin C 200 mg, vitamin E 300 mg, selenium 20 mg, troxerutin 600 mg and beta-carotene 6 mg. Before the onset of supplementation and immediately afterwards laboratory indicators of antioxidant protection and lipid peroxidation were investigated. Before treatment workers exposed to the risk of styrene had a significantly higher malondialdehyde concentration (p < 0.01) and antioxidant capacity (p < 0.01) as compared with the control group. Due to the established positive correlation between these parameters (r = 0.42, p < 0.05) the findings can be evaluated as the result of increased exposure to free radicals. After supplementation a marked decline of the malondialdehyde concentration occurred p < 0.001) and a further rise of the antioxidant capacity (p < 0.001). The selenium concentration increased also markedly, the rise being more marked in subjects who had originally a lower concentration. There was a significant rise of uric acid which has an antioxidant effect (p < 0.01). The antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and gluathione peroxidase did not change significantly. The results indicate the favourable effect of antioxidant treatment in subjects exposed to the risk of styrene.