Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Comparing the Effects of Electronic Cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke in a Novel In Vivo Exposure System
Published on: May 24, 2017
The influence of cigarette and qalyan (hookah) smoking on serum nitric oxide metabolite concentration
Asghar Ghasemi1, Leila Syedmoradi, Amir Abass Momenan
1Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Objective:
To assess the effect of exposure to cigarette and qalyan (hookah) smoking on serum nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (NO(x)) concentration.
Material And Methods:
Fasting serum NO(x) was measured by the Griess method in 333 men free of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease selected from participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Subjects were classified into active and passive cigarette smokers and they were age-matched with the non-smoker groups (n = 93/group). Twenty-seven qalyan smokers were also included in the study with their age-matched controls.
Results:
Multivariable-adjustment serum NO(x) values were compared between groups by analysis of covariance. Serum NO(x) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the active smokers [28.9 micromol/L (95% CI 26.2-32.0)] compared to nonsmokers [24.1 micromol/L (95% CI 21.8-26.7)]. A positive correlation was found between serum NO(x) and the number of cigarettes smoked per day (r = 0.222, p < 0.05). Qalyan smokers had higher serum NO(x) levels compared to the non-smoker controls [34.3 micromol/L (95% CI 27.8-42.3) vs. 22.5 micromol/L (95% CI 18.4-27.6), p < 0.01].
Conclusion:
Active cigarette and qalyan smoking are associated with high serum NO(x) levels.
Related Concept Videos
Stimulants
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating sympathetic or...
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2
