The influence and impact of smoking on red blood cell morphology and buccal microflora: A case-control study

Tobacco smoking is a major health issue worldwide. In addition to several health problems, smoking can also cause buccal cavity ulcers and buccal cavity cancer in case of chronic smoking. Tobacco smoking may also lead to deranged morphology of red blood cells (RBCs), which results in reduced oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

(a) To investigate and compare the changes in the RBC morphology of smokers and nonsmokers. (b) To investigate and compare the normal buccal flora of smokers and nonsmokers.

A total of 81 men were included in the study. Study population was divided into two groups: group 1; smokers (n = 50) and group 2; nonsmokers, which served as control (n = 31). After informed written consent from the study participants, a 5 mL of venous blood was drawn under sterile conditions for complete blood analysis and RBC morphology. Samples from buccal cavity were collected by cotton swab and cultured in sterile petri dishes to identify the bacterial growth. Data of RBC morphology and buccal microbiota were compared between smokers and nonsmokers.

Buccal microflora results showed heavy growth in smokers compared with nonsmokers. Mean values of RBCs, Platelets, WBCs, HGB (hemoglobin), and MCV (mean corpuscular volume) did not differ between smokers and nonsmokers. Mean red cell distribution (RDW) width significantly was lower in smokers than nonsmokers. Macrocytic RBCs was more in smokers (60%) compared with nonsmokers (4%).

Our results showed an increase in the percentage of macrocytic RBCs and a decrease in the red cell distribution width (RDW) in smokers compared with nonsmokers. Buccal Microflora was significantly higher in smoker group in contrast to nonsmoker group.