Dilshad Ahmad Khan, Aamir Ijaz, Farooq Ahmad Khan.
The effects of cigarette smoking on apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B.
Pak J Pathol Jan ;8(4):38-45.

The effects of cigarette smoking on serum apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) in smokers free from other risk factors of coronary heart disease; and dose response effect of number of cigarette smoked per day on these apolipoproteins were studied. Correlation of Apo A1 with HDLCholesterol (HDL-C) and Apo B with LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) as coronary risk factors was also examined alongwith the effects of smoking on HDL-C/Apo A1 and LDL-C/Apo B . Male volunteers consisting of 84 smokers and 35 non-smokers were included in the study. The serum was assayed for HDL-C and LDL-C by Boehringer Mannheim kits while Apo A1 and Apo B were determined by radial immunodiffusion method. The comparison of results between smokers and non-smokers respectively revealed: a decrease in Apo A1 (83.30±24.51 vs 98.32±24.13 mg/dl ; p < 0.01) and HDL-C (37.62±6.84 vs 40.78±6.2 mg/dl; p<0.05); and increase in Apo-B (116.25±30.37 mg/dl vs. 103.39±26.94 mg/dl; p<0.05) and LDL-C (111.29±38.91 mg/dl vs 100.29±31.92 mg/dl ; p < 0.05 ). A dose response relationship was also found between number of cigarette smoked per day and Apo A1 and Apo B levels. Positive correlation was found in smokers between Apo A1 and HDL-C (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) and Apo B and LDL-C (r = 0.56, p < 0.011. HDL/Apo A1 was increased (0.48±0.16 vs 0.43±0.09) and LDL/Apo B was decreased (0.99±0.38 vs 1.06±0.27) in smokers as compared to non-smokers. It is concluded that cigarette smoking decreases the levels of Apo A1 and increases Apo B; heavier the smoking the lower the Apo A1 levels and the higher the Apo B levels. There is positive correlation between Apo A1 and Apo B with HDL-C and LDL-C respectively. But as coronary risk factors these apolipoproteins provide additional information; Apo A1 and Apo B change to a greater extent as compared to HDL-C and LDL-C in smokers.

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