Investigation of oxidative stress and antioxidant vitamin levels in Maraş powder users and smokers

Objective: Maraş powder is a smokeless tobacco product made by combining dried Nicotiana rustica leaves with wood ash and is used by placing it in the lower lip. In addition to nicotine’s local and systemic effects, excess free radicals contribute to oxidative injury. This study aimed to compare the oxidative stress markers and antioxidant vitamin levels among Maraş powder users, smokers, and healthy controls Method: We enrolled 32 male Maraş powder users ( 1–2 grams, 3–6 times/day for at least one year), 32 male cigarette smokers (≥1 pack/day for at least one year), and 32 healthy male controls from Kahramanmaraş and nearby villages. After fasting (12 h) and abstaining from tobacco use for 8 h, venous blood samples were collected in the morning (08:00–10:00). Serum was stored at −80 °C. Using commercial colorimetric kits, Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), total thiol, and native thiol levels were measured. Vitamin A, C, and E levels were measured by ELISA. Statistical tests included Shapiro–Wilk, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Kruskal–Wallis tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: No significant differences were observed in the TAS, TOS, total thiol, or native thiol levels among the three groups (all p > 0.05). In contrast, vitamin A, C, and E levels differed significantly among the groups (p = 0.01 for vitamin A; p = 0.05 for vitamin C; p = 0.02 for vitamin E). Vitamin A levels were highest among Maraş powder users, and vitamin C and E levels were lowest among cigarette smokers. Conclusion: Although Maraş powder and cigarette smoking did not significantly affect global oxidative stress markers or thiol levels in this sample, smoking was associated with lower vitamin C and E levels. Maraş powder users exhibited elevated vitamin A levels. Findings suggest that different forms of tobacco exposure may exert distinct effects on the antioxidant vitamin status. Future studies with larger sample sizes and dietary controls are required.