Cigarette smoking and the accompanied alterations in lipid profile in a group of students in al-mustansiriyah university

Abstract EN

This study was carried out to assess further the association between cigarette smoking and the accompanied alterations in lipid profile.

Forty smokers and thirty non smokers were included in our study ; all volunteers were males of comparable ages.

The enzymatic methods were employed to determine the concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein.

The mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein were significantly increased in smokers when compared to non smokers exhibiting a direct dose response relationship.

Only insignificant elevation was noticed in the mean level of low-density lipoprotein.

The anti atherogenic high-density lipoproteins mean level was significantly lower in smokers than in non smokers.

Risk ratios were calculated as TC / HDL-C, LDL-C / HDL-C and non- HDL-C / HDL-C and were observed to be significantly higher in smokers than in non smokers.

These findings confirm and extend those of various studies in other countries.

The observed alterations in lipid profile in smokers along with high risk ratios do indicate that smoking produces adverse effects on lipid profile, therefore increasing the atherosclerotic disease risk.