A STUDY OF LIPID PROFILE AND SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS IN SMOKERS AND NON-SMOKERS.

Smoking is a demonstrated health hazard. It ranks second as the leading cause of death in the world. Smoking is associated with a more atherogenic lipid parameters. It increases the serum concentration of total Cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-Cholesterol, VLDL-Cholesterol and declines the level of good Cholesterol i.e. HDL-Cholesterol. Whenever, smoking is done oxidative stress is increased. It has also been postulated that the level of uric acid decreases when smoking duration is more than 5 years. The study involved 30 smokers and 30 controls selected from subjects attending the Medicine OPDs at IIMS & R. Lipid profile and serum uric acid levels were estimated. The data was analyzed using SPSS software 20.0. The serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels were higher in smokers as compared to controls whereas the HDLC and serum uric acid levels, were lower in smokers as compared to non smokers. This study clearly reveals a strong relationship between smoking and increase in serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels and decrease in HDL-C. This relationship is of great significance since this is atherogenic in nature. The low plasma uric acid level in smokers is a significant source of oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]