Effects of using a different kind of smokeless tobacco on cardiac parameters: "Maraş Powder"

A plant powder called "Maraş Powder" has been used widely instead of cigarette in the South-Eastern region of Turkey. It was confirmed that this powder has been made of tobacco N. rustica L. Our aim was to investigate whether the use of Maraş Powder is as harmful as cigarette smoking or not.

Forty-five Maraş Powder users (Group I), 32 persons who smoked cigarette (control-Group II) and 30 healthy persons neither smoking nor using Maraş Powder (Group III) were included into the study. Laboratory investigations, electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed in all participants of the study. For evaluation of the ventricular repolarization parameters, 50 mm/sec ECG recordings were used. Echocardiographic investigation was performed for assessment systolic and diastolic function.

No differences were found by means of ventricular repolarization parameters among the three groups (p>0.05). Echocardiographic investigation revealed similar systolic function results in all of the three groups. There was reduced early filling velocity of the left ventricle (p=0.03, p=0.02) and increased filling velocity of the atrial component (p=0.02, p=0.02) in group I and group II. When they were compared to group III, deceleration time was also increased (p<0.01, p<0.01). Isovolumetric relaxation time was higher in group I and group II than that of group III (p=0.02, p=0.03). In group I and group II, total cholesterol (p=0.03, p=0.02), LDL-cholesterol (p<0.01, p<0.01) and triglyceride levels (p<0.01, p<0.01) were found to be higher than those of group III, whereas HDL levels were lower (p=0.02, p<0.01).

As a result, we thought that Maraş Powder is as harmful as cigarette smoking and it has similar negative effects on cardiovascular system. In our opinion, "Maraş Powder" is a smokeless tobacco use.