Study of lipid profile and nitric oxide in chronic smokers

Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of respiratory tract infections, chronic airway disease, and cardiovascular diseases, all of which may be modulated by endogenous nitric oxide. We have investigated whether cigarette smoking reduces the production of endogenous NO. Oxidative stress also alters the lipid profile in chronic smokers. With this view, we planned to assess vasodilators by determining the level of nitric oxide and lipid profile in chronic smokers. This study aims to: 1) determine the level of nitric oxide in chronic smokers. 2) estimate the level of lipid profile such as total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, and triglycerides. Chronic smoker patients and healthy controls from Government Medical College and Hospital, Miraj, and P. V. P. G. Hospital, Sangli, were included in this study. A total of 70 clinically diagnosed chronic smokers and 70 healthy controls, all in the age group of 40 to 70 years, participated. : Serum nitric oxide level was found to be significantly decreased ( <0.001) in chronic smokers as compared to the control group. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were significantly increased ( <0.001) in chronic smokers as compared to the control group, and serum HDL-cholesterol level was found to be significantly decreased (0.001) in chronic smokers as compared to the control. Cigarette smoking decreased exhaled nitric oxide, suggesting that it may inhibit the enzyme nitric oxide synthase. Since endogenous nitric oxide is important in defending the respiratory tract against infection, counteracting bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction, and inhibiting platelet aggregation, this effect may contribute to the increased risks of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in cigarette smokers.