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Does short-term smoking cessation reduce plasma total homocysteine concentrations?
1Department of Preventive Cardiology, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway. serena.tonstad@ulleval.no
Insights
Smoking cessation for 10-11 weeks did not significantly lower plasma total homocysteine levels in men and women. This finding suggests that quitting smoking alone may not be sufficient to reduce homocysteine, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Public Health
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Elevated plasma total homocysteine and cigarette smoking are known risk factors for occlusive cardiovascular disease.
- Understanding the impact of smoking cessation on homocysteine levels is crucial for cardiovascular risk management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether smoking cessation for 10-11 weeks influences plasma total homocysteine concentrations.
- To assess these effects in individuals with and without established cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- A study involving men and women with and without cardiovascular disease.
- Comparison of plasma total homocysteine and HDL cholesterol levels between smoking quitters and persistent smokers.
- Analysis of baseline homocysteine levels in relation to smoking cessation outcomes.
Main Results:
- Smoking quitters showed statistically significant higher HDL cholesterol concentrations compared to those who continued smoking.
- No significant differences in plasma total homocysteine concentrations were observed between quitters and non-quitters.
- No differences were found even when analyzing subjects with high baseline homocysteine levels.
Conclusions:
- Smoking cessation for a mean of 10-11 weeks did not lead to a significant reduction in plasma total homocysteine concentrations.
- While smoking cessation positively impacts HDL cholesterol, it may not be sufficient to lower homocysteine levels on its own.
Abstract:
Both elevated plasma total homocysteine and cigarette smoking are associated with an increased risk of occlusive cardiovascular disease. We examined whether smoking cessation for a mean time of 10-11 weeks lowered plasma total homocysteine concentrations in men and women with (n=59) and without (n=55) established cardiovascular disease. Blood tests were available for 58 quitters and 29 subjects who did not stop smoking. Compared with subjects who continued to smoke, quitters had statistically significant higher HDL cholesterol concentrations, but plasma total homocysteine concentrations did not differ between the two groups. Likewise, no differences were found between quitters and non-quitters whose baseline homocysteine concentrations were above the 75th percentile.
