Evaluation of Nutritional Status and Testosterone of Smokers

Smoking is a global public health problem associated with excessive morbidity and mortality. We designed this study to estimate the nutritional status and testosterone levels among smokers in Ekpoma, Edo State. We recruited 100 smokers after obtaining informed consent and also included 50 seemingly healthy non-smokers as a control group. The study recruited both male and female subjects who had been smoking at least one stick of cigarettes per day for the past six months. We collected five milliliters (5 ml) of blood from the antecubital vein of both smokers and non-smokers and then transferred it into sterile, anticoagulant-free sample containers (plain tubes). We performed the determination of total protein, albumin, globulin, total cholesterol and testosterone using standard laboratory procedures. The results showed that total protein levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in smokers (7.02 ± 0.87 g/dl) when compared with the control (6.43 ± 1.06 mg/dl). Albumin levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in smokers (3.70 ± 0.71 g/dl) when compared with the control (3.32 ± 0.78 g/dl). Globulin levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in smokers (3.32 ± 0.78 g/dl) when compared with the control (3.11 ± 0.92 g/ dl). On the contrary, total cholesterol levels were not significantly different (p > 0.05) in smokers (176.10 ± 45.04 mg/dl) when compared with the control (184.94 ± 46.39 mg/dl). Testosterone levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in smokers (4.49 ± 1.55 ng/ml) when compared with the control (3.44 ±1.25 ng/ml). These results showed that smoking affected the nutritional parameters and testosterone. This could be attributed to increased synthesis by the liver. Additionally, smokers showed an increase in serum testosterone, suggesting a potential compromise in its function.