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.
Adult Aged