RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The oxidant stress is characterized by measurement of the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxiddismutase and also by concentrations of glutathione and selenium in erythrocytes. A standardization of the methods of determination is very important. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In erythrocytes of blood donors (n = 101) the parameters glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, superoxiddismutase and selenium were determined. RESULTS: The following results of the antioxidant parameters in erythrocytes of blood donors were found: Selenium 67.1 +/- 20.1 nmol/mmol Hb, glutathione peroxidase 842 +/- 290 U/mmol Hb, glutathione 108 +/- 48 mumol/mmol Hb, superoxiddismutase 15.8 +/- 6.4 U/mumol Hb. CONCLUSION: Selenium, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione and superoxiddismutase in erythrocytes of blood donors are normally distributed. There are no significant differences between men and women. The use of "own reference values" is necessary because no standardization of the methods of determination exists.