Opium consumption and lipid and glucose parameters in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome: a survey in northern Iran.

Background: A traditional belief is common among people of the Middle East countries regarding anti-diabetic and anti-dyslipidemic effect of opium.
Aim: To assess the association between opium consumption and lipid and glucose parameters in diabetic patients of northern Iran.
Methods: Ninety-seven diabetic patients admitted to Critical Care Unit (CCU) of Rouhani and Shahid Beheshti hospitals from 2006 to 2007 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Forty-eight patients with regular opium consumption of three days a week for more than 6 months were considered as case group. A non-opium diabetic patient admitted in the same hospital was considered as control for each opium addict patient. Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL, HDL, FBS, HbA1c were measured in all patients. Student t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square test and Spearman correlation were used for data analysis.
Result: The mean age of patients was 64.32 ± 11.47 years. There were no significant differences between the serum level of lipid and glucose indices between the two groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The effect of opium consumption on diabetes and dyslipidemia are not protective.