Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Endothelial Function in Chronic Smokers Compared with Healthy Young Adults
Abstract
PURPOSE: Previous studies have suggested endothelial dysfunction as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular events, and cigarette smoking impairs endothelial function. To examine the degree to which smoking cigarettes affects endothelial function in individuals, we compared brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) between young adult smokers (100 cigarette lifetime minimum, and 15 per month) and non-smoking recreationally-active young adults.
METHODS: The FMD test was performed on 30 young adult smokers (26 M, 4 F, age 25.2±4.6yrs) and 28 non-smokers (19 M, 9 F age 24.2±3.7yrs). Parameters of the FMD test include, baseline and peak diameter, FMD (% and absolute change), shear rate area under the curve (s-1, AUC), normalized FMD response (FMD (%) / Shear rate (s-1, AUC). Smoking status was verified via breath carbon monoxide (CO) concentration.
RESULTS: FMD (5.6±3.8% vs. 7.6±3.1%, p=0.05) and the normalized FMD response (0.41±0.35 vs. 0.73±0.52, p=0.01) were both lower in smokers compared to non-smokers. There were sex differences in baseline diameter (0.35±0.03 cm vs. 0.41±0.06 cm; p=0.001) and peak diameter (0.37±0.01 cm vs. 0.43±0.06 cm p=0.001), with men exhibiting higher for both measures. No differences (p>0.05) between smokers and non-smokers were observed for baseline diameter (0.38±0.06 cm vs. 0.41±0.06 cm), peak diameter (0.41±0.06 cm vs. 0.43±0.06 cm), absolute change in diameter (0.03±0.01 cm vs. 0.02±0.02 cm), and shear rate (14011.98±10.456.17 s-1, AUC vs. 16714.42±8128.99 s-1, AUC) . Further, there was no correlation with breath CO concentration and any FMD variable in smokers.
CONCLUSION: These data support previous studies which indicate that chronic smoking results in endothelial dysfunction. Our ongoing randomized-controlled trial will determine if resistance training can improve endothelial function in chronic smokers and whether the levels after training will be similar to those in non-smokers before training.
Department
Kinesiology
Publication Date
5-1-2012
Journal Title
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Publisher
Wolters Kluwer
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Dang MT, Feairheller DL, Harris RA, Roberts CK. Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Endothelial Function in Chronic Smokers Compared with Healthy Young Adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 44:5. Supp. 2012.
Rights
© 2012 American College of Sports Medicine