European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CIGARETTE SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO HEALTH: A BIOCHEMICAL STUDY IN SOME CHRONIC MALE CIGARETTE SMOKERS IN OVOM NIGERIA

Emmanuel Tonbra Egoro*, Godwin Ikhide Ilegbedion, Digban Kester Awharentomah,
Samuel Okechukwu Richard

ABSTRACT

Cigarette smoking is an act which is associated with many disorders that are preventable. This study was aimed at assessing the status of some plasma biochemical parameters in chronic male cigarette smokers. Blood specimens were collected into lithium heparinized anticoagulated bottles from forty male subjects aged 18-30 years who are addicted to smoking of 10-15 cigarettes per day for a period of 6-10 years(experimental group) and another forty male subjects with no evidence of cigarette smoking, aged 18-30 years (control group).The blood specimens were spun and the plasma obtained were used for the quantitative measurement of urea, C-reactive proteins, uric acid, sodium, potassium and total testosterone using spectrophotometer S23A13192 model. The results revealed significant elevations (p ≤ 0.05) in the plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein, sodium and potassium in the experimental group as compared with that of the control group while a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in the plasma concentrations of uric acid and total testosterone were obtained in the experimental group as compared with that of the control group. The results further revealed that there was no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) in the plasma concentration of urea in the experimental group compared with control group. In conclusion, this study has shown that smoking of 10-15 cigarettes per day for a period of 6-10 years has effects on the plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein, uric acid, sodium, potassium and total testosterone affirming its danger to human health. It is therefore recommended that smokers of 10-15 cigarettes per day for a period of 6-10 years should embark on routine laboratory investigations on the above mentioned significant plasma biochemical parameters in order to prevent any health problems that may subsequently lead to death.

Keywords: Chronic cigarette smoking, danger to health, plasma biochemical parameters, Ovom, Nigeria.