Vitamin E supplementation prevents lung dysfunction and lipid peroxidation in nude mice exposed to side-stream cigarette smoke

Sidestream cigarette smoke (SSCS) is a major component of environmental tobacco smoke. The purpose of this study was to investigate development of lung injury and lipid peroxidation in the lung and liver of immunodeficient (Nude) mice exposed to a small amount of SSCS (a total 5 hours of exposure). The effects of vitamin E supplementation of the mice were also determined. SSCS increased pulmonary resistance and lipid peroxidation in these mice. Dietary vitamin E supplementation increased vitamin E levels in lung and liver. In addition, vitamin E attenuated SSCS-mediated pulmonary injury and lipid peroxidation. It appears that the enhanced resistance against SSCS- induced lung injury and lipid peroxidation may be primarily due to the increased antioxidant property of vitamin E in vitamin E-supplemented mice.