Suppressed anti-oxidant capacity due to a cellulose-free diet declines further by cigarette smoke in mice

Abstract

Dietary fiber, maintaining the gut environment, contributes to better lung function among smokers. This study was aimed to investigate the role of dietary fiber on the anti-oxidant capacity and gut environment during exposure to cigarette smoke. The anti-oxidant capacity as well as caecal levels of organic acids and population of micro-flora in the gut was measured after 4 months' exposure to cigarette smoke in mice (C57BL/6NcrSlc) fed with a cellulose-free diet. Animals were divided into control diet (AIN-93G)/non-smoke, cellulose-free diet/non-smoke, control diet/smoke, and cellulose-free diet/smoke groups. The anti-oxidant capacity in plasma was significantly suppressed by the cellulose-free diet in the non-smoke exposed mice. The suppression in the anti-oxidant capacity further declined following exposure to cigarette smoke. Both these changes in the anti-oxidant capacity were accompanied with changes in some organic acids levels in caecal contents. The anti-oxidant activity was significantly inversely correlated to succinic acid / acetic acid levels balance in caecal contents. In conclusion the cellulose-free diet suppressed the anti-oxidant capacity in mice, and the suppression further decreased by exposure to cigarette smoke. These changes in the anti-oxidant capacity may be related with changes in the gut environment.