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Smoking or its cessation does not alter the susceptibility to in vitro LDL oxidation
F W van den Berkmortel1, P N Demacker, H Wollersheim
1Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands. F.Vandenberkmortel@aig.azn.nL
Background:
Enhanced induction of low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation may play a role in the increased cardiovascular risk in smokers. We determined LDL oxidisability in vitro in non-smokers, smokers and in subjects after smoking cessation.
Patients And Methods:
Plasma lipids and copper induced LDL oxidation in vitro were measured in 31 persistent smokers, 47 smokers who tried to stop smoking and 25 non-smokers. In the smoking cessation group, blood was collected before then 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after smoking cessation, and in the persistent smoking and non-smoking groups at baseline and after 12 months. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured 3 times (at baseline then after 1 and 3 months) in all subjects who refrained from smoking (controlled by urinary cotinine concentrations) for at least 3 months.
Results:
At baseline, no differences in mean age, body mass index and lipid profiles between groups were present. Seventeen subjects of the smoking cessation group (36%) managed to quit during 12 months. Smoking cessation was associated with an increase in mean weight (P
Conclusions:
Neither the previously observed increased cardiovascular risk in smokers nor the decreased risk in those who stopped smoking seem to be mediated by permanent changes in lipid profiles or by alterations in the susceptibility to in vitro oxidation of LDL.