Effect of cigarette smoking on serum α-tocopherol and the lipid profile in a Portuguese population

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta Vol. 348; no. 1; pp. 49 - 55
• Main Authors: Lopes, Paula A., Santos, Maria C., Vicente, Luı́s, Viegas-Crespo, Ana M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2004
• Subjects: Adult; alpha-Tocopherol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cigarette smoking; Female; Humans; Lipid profile; Lipids - blood; Male; Portugal; Sex Factors; Smoking - blood; Triglycerides - blood; α-Tocopherol; Portugal; Lipid profile; α-Tocopherol; Cigarette smoking; Humans
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cccn.2004.04.033

Background: The present study was conducted to determine the effects of cigarette smoking on the levels of serum α-tocopherol and on the lipid profile in humans from the Lisbon population. Methods: Serum α-tocopherol was evaluated by a reverse-phase HPLC method with UV detection. Enzymatic tests were used for the evaluation of the lipid profile. Results: Smokers in general and female smokers in particular had decreased α-tocopherol levels when compared with nonsmokers. Smokers had also lower HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) contents, but this difference was statistically significant only for females. Regardless of sex, in smokers, there was a positive correlation between α-tocopherol and triglyceride (TG) levels. Cluster analysis showed a sex-independent separation between smokers and nonsmokers. Conclusion: These results suggest a different interaction of these blood parameters in smokers versus nonsmokers that should be further investigated.