Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Vol. 154, No.

6, April, 2013 GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 731

Antioxidant Potential of the Blood in Men

with Obstructive Sleep Breathing Disorders
L. I. Kolesnikova, I. M. Madaeva, N. V. Semenova, B. Ya. Vlasov,
L. A. Grebenkina, M. A. Darenskaya, and M. I. Dolgikh
Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 154, No. 12, pp. 695-697, December, 2012
Original article submitted January 30, 2012

We studied the state of the LPO–antioxidant defense system in men aged from 46 to 55 years.
The main group included patients with obstructive sleep breathing disorders. The state of the
antioxidant defense system was assessed by measuring the blood levels of LPO substrates
with conjugated double bonds, conjugated dienes, ketodienes and conjugated trienes, MDA,
retinol, α-tocopherol, reduced and oxidized glutathione, SOD activity, and the level of total
antioxidant activity of blood. Calculation of antioxidant potential helps to identify the pro-
cesses of “oxidative stress” in the main group, which is a pathogenetic substantiation for
including antioxidant drugs in the complex therapy of patients with OSBD.

Key Words: antioxidant potential; sleep-related obstructive breathing disorders

Activation of LPO reactions in vivo is closely asso- MATERIALS AND METHODS

ciated with oxygen transport and utilization system.
This is of particular importance for human adapta-
tion to hypoxia arising in obstructive sleep breath-
ing disorders (OSBD), when the probability of such
activation increases dramatically and leads to the
development of pathology depending on a number
of conditions [1,9]. OSBD-related disorders of gas
exchange result in changes of free radical homeosta-
sis, manifested in reactive oxygen species and LPO
activation [5,8,14]. However, most researchers point
out that integral indices are more sensitive for assess-
ment of the balance between LPO and the antioxidant
defense system (AOS) than comparison of selected
indicators.
In this paper, we applied the methodology for
evaluation of antioxidant potential (AOP), which
was used as an integral parameter characterizing
LPO—AOS imbalance disorders.
Here we estimated AOS in men with OSBD.
Research Center of Family Health Protection and Human Reproduc-
tion Problems, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Medical Sci-
ences, Irkutsk, Russia. Address for correspondence: natkor_84@
mail.ru. N. V. Semenova
The study involved 51 men aged 46-55 years. The
inclusion criteria were snoring for 6 or more months,
morning headache, predominant increase in blood
pressure in the morning, daytime sleepiness, unrefresh-
ing sleep, poor concentration and memory, decreased
libido, and nocturnal diuresis. Exclusion criteria were
the absence of acute pathologies and exacerbation of
chronic diseases. All participants were included in the
study after signing informed consent in accordance
with the Declaration of Helsinki (2000). After a night
of adaptation in a specially equipped sleep laboratory
under conditions close to home, all persons were sub-
jected to polysomnographic monitoring using GRASS-
TELEFACTOR Twin PSG system (Comet) with an As
40 amplifier and integrated module for sleep. Applica-
tion of electrodes and sensors, installation and physi-
ological calibration, eliminating of possible artifacts,
and identification and assessment of sleep stages were
conducted in accordance with international recommen-
dations and criteria of American experts [13]. After
the study, the patients were divided into two groups.
Group of patients with OSBD duration of 10.5±1.5
years (mean age 53.16±3.45 years, BMI 33.19±5.76

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732 Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Vol. 154, No. 6, April, 2013 GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

kg/m2) consisted of 37 persons. Control group included

14 men (mean age 50.38±2.63 years, BMI 34.27±3.48
kg/m2) without obstructive sleep breathing disorders.
The intensity of LPO and AOS was assessed by
the levels of their individual components in blood se-
rum and hemolisate as well as by the values of total
antioxidant activity [4]. The levels of substrates and
products of LPO, compounds with conjugated double
bonds, conjugated dienes, ketodienes and conjugated
trienes were determined spectrophotometrically [3].
The content of LPO end-product MDA was deter-
mined fluorometrically by the reaction with TBA [2].
Activity of AOS was evaluated also by the levels of
α-tocopherol and retinol [10], reduced and oxidized
glutathione (GSH and GSSG) [11], SOD activity, and
Fig. 1. Relative values of the indicators of lipid peroxidation in men
by the dynamics of epinephrine autoxidation [12]. The with OSBD (control as 0%). CD, conjugated dienes; DB, double
measurements were performed on a Shimadzu RF- bonds; KD and CT, ketodienes, and conjugated trienes.
1501 spectrofluorometer.
For statistical analysis of the data, Statistica 6.1
software was used (Stat Soft Inc.; license owner Re-
search Center of Family Health Protection and Human
Reproduction Problems, Siberian Division of Russian
Academy of Medical Sciences). Intergroup differences
for independent samples were analyzed with paramet-
ric Student’s t test and nonparametric Mann–Whitney
test. The differences were significant at p<0.05.

RESULTS
The results of LPO and AOS evaluation in men with
OSBD are presented in Figs. 1 and 2. The study of all
LPO processes revealed a tendency to increase in blood
levels of the substrates with conjugated double bonds
(DB), ketodienes and conjugated trienes (KD and CT)
and final LPO product MDA in patients with OSBD.
The content of primary LPO products, conjugated dienes
(CD), in men of the main group was lower than in the
control group. Assessing the state of AOS, we observed a
decrease in SOD activity, and blood levels of antioxidants
retinol and GSH and an increased in total antioxidant ac-
tivity (AOA) in the serum of patients with OSBD.
For better understanding of LPO and AOS in men
with OSBD, we calculated AOP values. To this end,
we used the principle proposed by A. S. Losev and A.
F. Fesyuk in 2000. [7]. In this paper, all the indicators
were divided into two groups. The first group included
parameters characterizing AOS and the other group
characterized prooxidants. Then, the integral paramer
was calculated by the formula:
АОА+GSH+SOD+retinol+α-tocopherol
AOP= . of function. This results in the disorders in the self-
MDA+CD+KD-CT+DB+GSSG
In this case, their relative values were used. The
resulting value was compared with the control taken
as 1. Value closer to 1 suggest the balance between
Fig. 2. Relative values of ADS in men with OSBD (control taken as
0%). АОА, antioxidant activity.
oxidant and prooxidant elements; value less than 1,
the shift toward prooxidant activity; greater than 1,
sufficient AOS. Index AOP in men with OSBD was
0.75. This indicates a marked imbalance in LPO–
AOS system towards prooxidant activity. The shift of
prooxidant-antioxidant balance in favor of prooxidant
factors is “oxidative stress” and can cause potential
cell damage [6]. Given the duration of the disease in
these patients, which corresponds to severe OSBD,
we can assume that prolonged and severe hypoxia
with aggravation of the characteristic signs of sleep
disorders during a number of years causes a depletion
regulation mechanisms and failure of compensatory-
adaptive mechanisms, which leads to the disintegra-
tion and transformation of the physiological system
into pathological one.
L. I. Kolesnikova, I. M. Madaeva, et al.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the obtained
results are pathogenetic substantiation for including
drugs that inhibit the activation of LPO, in the com-
plex therapy of patients with OSBD.
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