[Effect of smoking on weight and cardiopulmonary capacities in young athletes]

The aim of the study was to determine wether smokers practising sports have reduced weight, if recuperation time after moderate exercise and maximal aerobic power were lowered. Thousand young soldiers [50 smokers (S), 50 no smokers (NS)] averaging 24 years in age were studied. The subjects performed to exhaustion on Ruffier test, then a maximal exercise with Cooper test. Several biometrical and physiological parameters were evaluated: weight (W), percent of body fat (PBF), body mass index (BMI), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and recuperation index (RI). Kinetics of heart rate (HR) were studied for 7 min considering time constant (1 min) and delay for recovery. The smokers showed significant differences for W (p < 0.001), PBF (p < 0.05), VO2 max (p < 0.01) and recuperation index (p < 0.001). Maximal aerobic power were 45.8 +/- 2.7 and 50.3 +/- 3.2 ml/kg/min for S and NS, and RI were 7.5 +/- 0.9 (S) and 5.0 +/- 1 (NS). figure 1 shows that HR recovery of S has generally two components: the first was fast, the second was a slone none. The smokers who presented a great dependence to tobacco smoking had a significant lower RI (p < 0.001) as those subjects with little tobacco dependence (Table 5). The smokers had lower values of VO2 max, and there exists a tobacco dependence difference. Recuperation time for the aerobically well trained S subjects was more rapid during the lactic phase. Note that correlations obtained between the VO2 max and RI were significant (r = - 0.788; p < 0.05). The smokers and no smokers differences are discussed with reference to nicotinemia effects and the sympathetic-parasympathetic unbatance of influences. The comparison of smokers groups concerning cardiovascular data led to suppose that there exists a tobacco dependence difference in regards of the catecholaminergic sensitivity. In conclusion, this study showed that smoker practising a physical activity have a reduced weight, a higher recuperation time and an anaerobic limitation influenced by the state of tobacco dependence.