Cigarette Smoking and the Accompanied Alterations in Lipid Profile in a Group of Students in Al-Mustansiriyah University

Abstract

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.