Serum lipid, lipoprotein-cholesterol and apolipoproteins A-I and B of smoking and non-smoking males.

Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Accordingly, we measured the serum lipid, lipoprotein-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I, B in 128 cigarette smoking males and 67 non-smoking males. The total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in smokers and non-smokers showed no statistical significance. The smokers had significantly higher serum triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol levels (P < 0.001), but significantly lower HDL-cholesterol levels (P < 0.05) than non-smokers. The apolipoprotein A-I was significantly lower and apolipoprotein B was significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers (P < 0.001). Levels of lipid, lipoprotein-cholesterol were related to the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher in those who smoked > 20 cigarettes/day compared with those who smoked 10-20, < 10 cigarettes/day and non-smokers (P < 0.05). Those who smoked > 20 cigarettes/day had significantly lower HDL-cholesterol than those of non-smokers (P < 0.05). All three groups of smokers had significantly lower apolipoprotein A-I than non-smokers (P < 0.05), whereas, those who smoked > 20 cigarettes/day had significantly higher apolipoprotein B levels than those who smoked 10-20, < 10 cigarettes/day and non-smokers (P < 0.05).