Effect of cigarette smoking on lipids, lipoproteins, blood coagulation, fibrinolysis and cellular components of human blood.

A group of 187 volunteers aged 30-60 years were divided into heavy and light smokers and non-smokers. Heavy smokers smoked over 20 cigarettes per day and light smokers between 5-15, averaging about 7 cigarettes per day. (1) Compared with male non-smokers (N.S.), the male heavy smokers (H.S.) had a higher fasting serum turbidity, higher levels of cholesterol (mainly confined to the ester cholesterol fraction) and higher levels of serum phospholipids and triglycerides. In this H.S. group, the esterified fatty acid index (EFI) of beta and pre-beta lipoprotein were also raised as shown by paper and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The Stypven clotting times were also shorter than for the N.S. group. (2) Increased levels of triglycerides, pre-beta EFI, longer fibrinolysis times and shorter Stypven times were recorded in the group of female heavy smokers. Changes in cholesterol levels, beta EFI, phospholipids and fasting serum turbidity were not seen in this group. (3) Again, in the male heavy smokers, haematocrit and haemoglobin levels and mean corpuscular volumes were raised. The white cell count (WBC) was very significantly raised and a differential count indicated rises in neutrophils and lymphocytes. These changes were not significant in the female H.S. group. (4) No significant changes were found in the group of light smokers but a trend was usually seen that suggested that these changes were influenced by the number of cigarettes smoked.