Abstract:
A cross-sectional study conducted in Khartoum
state during the period from February to August 2011,
compared the serum levels of total cholesterol,
triglycerides, LDL-C and HDL-C, of 45 apparently healthy
cigarette smokers as a test group, and 45 apparently
healthy non smokers as a control group. Serum lipid profile
was determined using spectrophotometer and kits from
Biosystem Company.
The means of the serum levels of total cholesterol,
triglycerides and LDL-C were all significantly raised (p<
0.05) in the test group (smokers) when compared with the
control group (non smokers) where as there was no
significant difference between the means of the serum
levels of HDL-C.
There is a positive correlation between the serum
levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C with
both, the number of cigarettes smoked per day and
duration of smoking in years.
In this study, it is concluded that cigarette smoking
is associated with raised serum levels of total cholesterol,
triglycerides and LDL-C and hence with increase risk of
atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
