Serum Calcium, Phosphate and Alkaline Phosphatase in Cigarette Smokers

Abstract

A prospective study conducted during the period December 2007 to march 2008, compared serum levels of calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase activity of 50 apparently healthy cigarette smoker volunteers (as a test group) and 30 apparently healthy volunteers (as a control group).All were selected randomly from the University of Science and Technology in Omdrman, Sudan.The test group and the control group, were matched in term of age, socioeconomic status and sex (all were males).The serum levels of calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured using A25 auto analyzer from Biosystem Company, Barcelona, Spain .Serum calcium was significantly reduced, while serum phosphate and alkaline phosphatase were significantly raised in the test group compared to the control group. Mean ± SD for smokers versus controls: (8.71 ± 0.32) versus (9.66 ± 0.51) mg/dl (P<0.05); for serum calcium. (3.74 ± 0.52) versus (2.82 ± 0.38) mg/dl (P<0.05); for serum phosphate. (109.04 ± 7.85) versus (96.06 ± 6.36) U/L (P<0.05); for serum alkaline phosphatase activity. In the test group, serum calcium was negatively correlated, while serum phosphate and alkaline phosphatase activity were positively correlated with both the duration of smoking (in years) and the number of cigarette smoked per day. From this study, it is concluded that; cigarette smoking is associated with low serum calcium that correlates negatively with both; the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. In addition, serum phosphate and alkaline phosphatase are increased, and have a positive correlation with both; the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day.