[Somatometry and lipid profile in smokers. Modifications after smoking withdrawal].

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this work was to determine the somatometric and lipidic profile in a group of 90 smokers and to carry out a prospective study on modifications due to smoking withdrawal.

METHODS

A somatometric and lipidic profile was performed to 90 smokers and 30 non-smokers. Afterwards smokers were included in a smoking withdrawal program. One year later all subjects who stopped smoking as well as 10 of the smokers who failed in smoking withdrawal underwent a new blood analysis and somatometric study.

RESULTS

Initial somatometry showed that smokers had a significantly higher (p less than 0.05) overweight and endomorphic index, based on somatometric characteristics. In addition, smokers showed significant lower level of HDL-cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) than non-smokers (p less than 0.001). Somatometric and lipidic profile performed one year after smoking cessation showed a statistically significant increase on HDL-cholesterol (p less than 0.05). Somatometric and lipidic profile of the subjects who failed in smoking withdrawal showed no significant changes in relation to the study made the previous year.

CONCLUSIONS

From these data we suggest that modifications of lipidic profile induced by tobacco consumption can be reverted, at least in part, after smoking cessation. In addition smokers present higher overweight when theoretic weight is based on somatometric characteristics.