The British Medical Journal published a study online that proves cigarette smoke causes an increase in glucose intolerance in smokers and non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke.
With the increasing push to ban smoking in public places, this adds fuel to the fire.
The study followed 4,572 men and women in 4 different cities for 15 years. They documented exposure to cigarettes smoke either by direct inhalation, second hand, or non-smoking no second hand exposure.
The primary outcome was a change in carbohydrate intolerance, or glucose intolerance. Glucose intolerance is defined as fasting blood sugar above 110 but below 126. It is a pre-diabetic condition where the body (pancreas) cannot produce adequate insulin to maintain blood sugar levels adequately. Other conditions that predispose one to glucose intolerance include obesity, alcoholism, and poor diet.
The rate of glucose intolerance, or pre-diabetes, in smokers was 22%. This number is astonishing. Individuals exposed to second hand smoke had a 17% rate of glucose intolerance, and those unexposed to cigarette smoke had a 12% rate of glucose intolerance.
The study also found that Caucasian smokers were more likely to develop glucose intolerance than African American smokers. The effect or degree of glucose intolerance was also observed to be dose dependant. The more one smokes, or is exposed, the greater the risk.
The authors did not determine a mechanism with this study, but perhaps it is due to the damaging effects chemicals in cigarette smoke can have on the various organ systems via oxidative damage.
The study documents yet another reason not to smoke cigarettes, and why it should be illegal to expose individuals to second hand smoke against their will.
Posted by Kristopher Foster on April 30, 2006 01:05 PM
