Oxidative stress and non-enzymic antioxidant status in hypertensive patients in Nigeria

Oxidative stress and non-enzymic antioxidant status in plasma of hypertensive patients in Nigeria were investigated. One hundred and fifty hypertensive patients (82 males and 68 females) age range 55 – 75 years visiting Federal Medical Centre, Owerri were selected for the study. Controls were 120 apparently healthy subjects (66 males and 54 females) age range 55 -75 years. Patients with complication such as renal diseases, viral and bacterial infections were excluded from the study. In The hypertensive patients presented significantly higher mean values of plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerols and reduced HDL-cholesterol and phospholipids (p < 0.05). The result of plasma lipid peroxide was significantly higher in hypertensive patients (p < 0.05). Also the levels of non-enzymic antioxidants such as Vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione in plasma were significantly depleted in the hypertensive patients (p < 0.05). This study shows that hypertension is associated with increased oxidative stress and depleted non-enzymic antioxidant status even in developing countries like Nigeria.