Original Research Article DOI: 10.18231/2394-6377.2016.0005 International Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Research 2016;3(4):368-370 368 Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Serum Lipid Profile in Male Population of Udaipur (Rajasthan) Deepa Singh Professor, American International Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan Email: dc_deepa@rediffmail.com Abstract Cigarette Smoking is associated with adverse effects on lipid profile and Homocysteine thus increasing risk for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Smoking is a prominent risk factor for coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disorders. This study was undertaken to evaluate serum lipid profile in chronic smokers and to compare it with healthy non-smokers, considered as controls. Serum lipid profile was measured in 300 male subjects. Out of which 150 were smokers and 150 non- smokers (controls) with an age range of 50 to 60 years. Only chronic smokers who were smoking for more than 20 years were included in the study. It was revealed that mean serum Total Cholesterol (268.88±29.23 mg/dl), Triglyceride (192.12±56.42 mg/dl), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (189.76±15.74 mg/dl), Very Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (38.42±11.28 mg/dl) were significantly higher in chronic smokers as compared to non-smokers with mean serum Total Cholesterol (182.56±21.33 mg/dl), Triglyceride (115.71±32.11mg/dl), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (107.68±9.55 mg/dl), Very Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (23.14±6.42 mg/dl). On the other hand value of mean serum High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol was lower in chronic smokers (40.7±2.21 mg/dl) than in non-smokers (51.74±5.36 mg/dl). Thus this study concludes that cigarette smoking produced adverse effects on lipid profile, leading to increase cardiovascular disease risk among smokers. Keywords: Dyslipidaemia, Smokers, Cardiovascular Diseases Introduction Smoking is one of the most potent and prevalent addictive habits, influencing behaviour of human beings. Smoking is now increasing rapidly throughout the developing world and is one of the biggest threats to current and future world health. Nearly 20% of all coronary heart disease deaths can be attributed to smoking (1,2) . Cigarette smoking is a prominent risk factor for coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disorders. Smoking is associated with a more atherogenic lipid profile (3-5) . It increases the concentration of serum total Cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-Cholesterol, VLDL-Cholesterol and decreases the level of good Cholesterol i.e. HDL-Cholesterol (6-10) . Thus, smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (11,12) . Various mechanisms leading to lipid alteration by smoking are: (a) nicotine results in increased secretion of hepatic free fatty acids and triglycerides along with VLDL-C in the blood stream by increasing the secretion of catecholamines and thus stimulating sympathetic adrenal system resulting in increased lipolysis (13) ; (b) consumption of a diet lacking in fibre and cereal content but enriched with fat and cholesterol by smokers as compared to non-smokers (14) ; (c) cigarette smoking is known to be associated with raised plasma Homocysteine level (15,16) which causes oxidative modification of LDL-Cholesterol and decreases HDL-Cholesterol (17) , several studies reported homocysteine inhibited Apo A-I protein expression and decreased HDL Cholesterol (18,19) . The aim of this study was to investigate serum lipid profile pattern in male chronic smokers of Udaipur city. Materials and Methods The study was designed to compare values of lipid profile in chronic smokers smoking more than one pack or above daily vs non-smokers. A total number of 300 subjects were evaluated from April 2016 to July 2016, at Arth Diagnostic Private Limited, Udaipur. 150 male chronic smokers who were smoking for more than 20 years (one pack or above per day), with an age range of 50 to 60 years, were included for this study after obtaining written informed consent (Group I). 150 male non-smokers, whom age and weight was approximately matched with the subjects in (Group I) were recruited as controls (Group II). Controls were clinically healthy and from a similar background to cases as possible. The results were analysed for statistical significance by p value with 95% confidence interval. The following criteria were used for exclusion: 1. Alcoholics 2. Ex-smokers 3. Diabetes mellitus 4. Renal disease 5. Hypertension 6. Previous and family history of coronary heart disease 7. Chronic hepatic dysfunction 8. Endocrine disorders and obesity 9. Lipid lowering drugs Venous blood samples were collected after 12 hours of an overnight fast into plain tubes. Serum was obtained by centrifugation and samples were immediately separated into aliquot and stored at -20˚C until analysed. Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol levels were analysed on fully autoanalyser of Roche, Cobas Integra 400 Plus by