Abstract:
This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the effect of
cigarette smoking on serum iron and magnesium levels. During the period
of 5-30 April 2011. Seventy volunteers were smoker males (aged 18-35
years old), and thirty non smoker males (aged 18-35 years old, as control
group) were enrolled in this study, they were from Khartoum (n=34),
Khartoum-north (n=19) and Omdurman (n=47). Three ml of fasting
venous blood were collected from each volunteer, the serum obtained and
analyzed colorimetrically.
Statistical analysis of the obtained results revealed that; serum iron was
significantly higher in smokers (140±52) μg/dl when compared to non
smokers (90±22) μg/dl, (p value = 0.000), serum iron did not change due to
age difference (p value = 0.2). Tribal origin had an effect on serum iron; it
was significantly altered (p value = 0.04). There was insignificant
difference between the mean of serum iron in smokers who smoked ≤15
cigarettes per day (138±50) μg/dl compared to those who smoked ≥15
cigarettes per day (145± 55) μg/dl, (p value 0.6), there was no correlation
between serum iron and the number of cigarettes per day, also there was no
correlation between serum iron and the duration of smoking.
Also the analysis showed that; serum magnesium was significantly lower
in smokers (1.4±0.40) mg/dl when compared to non smokers (2.2±0.39)
mg/dl, (p value 0.000), serum magnesium did not change due to age
difference (p value 0.4). Tribal variation did not affect serum magnesium
(p value 0.2), there was significant difference between the mean of serum
magnesium in smokers who smoked ≤15 cigarettes per day (1.5±0.36)
mg/dl compared to those who smoked ≥15 cigarettes per day (1.3±0.35)
mg/dl, (p value 0.03), there was a weak negative correlation between
serum magnesium and the number of cigarettes per day (correlation
coefficient r = -0.2), and there was a weak negative correlation between
serum magnesium and the duration of smoking (correlation coefficient r =
-0.3).
