Plasma HDL cholesterol and the subclasses HDL2 and HDL3 in smokers and non-smokers.

Plasma cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol, HDL3 cholesterol and triglycerides were examined in 45 healthy males aged 40 to 49 years, living in Finnmark, Northern Norway. In 14 men who had been smoking more than 15 cigarettes daily for at least 10 years, HDL cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol and HDL3 cholesterol were all found to be significantly lower than in 23 non-smokers. No significant difference was found between smokers and non-smokers concerning triglycerides and (total) cholesterol. It is suggested that cigarette smoking may promote atherosclerosis by lowering the antiatherogenic subclass HDL2.