BALTIMORE, May 5, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Children exposed to cigarette smoke
have lower levels of anti-oxidants, which help the body defend against
biological stresses, U.S. researchers said.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York looked at
the levels of anti-oxidants vs. the amount of smoke exposure in more than 2,000
children and teens ages 6 and 18 in the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey.
The study, presented at the Pediatric Academic Society Meeting in Baltimore,
showed that secondhand smoke exposure is associated with lower levels of
anti-oxidants in children.
"We don't know enough yet to say that this group of children need supplements to
make up for the anti-oxidants they're losing, but it's always wise to feed
children an abundance of fruits and vegetables high in anti-oxidants and other
healthy nutrients," Dr. Karen Wilson said in a statement.
Anti-oxidants are believed to play an important role in protecting the body's
cells against free radicals, which can damage cells, Wilson said.
The higher the level of cotinine -- a byproduct of metabolizing tobacco smoke --
in a child's blood, the lower the anti-oxidant level, after controlling for diet
and supplements, the researchers said.
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