Isoprostanes quickly normalize after quitting cigarette smoking in healthy adults

Background: Isoprostanes and in particular 8-epi-PGF(2α) have been claimed as a useful measure for in-vivo oxidation injury. While smokers show elevated 8-epi-PGF(2α) the behaviour during quitting smoking is unknown. Methods and results: We determined 8-epi-PGF(2α) in 7 healthy adults ready to quit smoking in plasma, serum and urine by means of an enzyme immunoassay after extraction and purification before quitting smoking and during a follow-up period of 4 weeks. After quitting smoking; 8-epi-PGF(2α) shows a rapid decline within a few days almost completely normalizing within 4 weeks. Conclusion: The cigarette-smoking associated in-vivo oxidation injury almost completely disappears within 4 weeks of quitting smoking.