ABSTRACT
Plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose and total protein were estimated in (male) masons without any habits (normal masons) and masons with habits (cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and betel-quid cum tobacco chewing) and compared with normal subjects. Masons had less total cholesterol and more HDL cholesterol when compared with normal subjects, which may be due to their occupational physical activities. Among masons, cigarette-smoking masons alone had more total cholesterol and less HDL cholesterol. Blood glucose also decreased in masons and more so in betel-quid cum tobacco chewing masons when compared with normal subjects while total protein content showed no variation.
Subject(s)
Adult , Alcoholism/blood , Analysis of Variance , Areca/adverse effects , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Cholesterol/blood , Cholesterol, HDL/blood , Habits , Humans , Male , Physical Exertion/physiology , Smoking/blood , Tobacco, Smokeless/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Effect of occupation on haematological factors, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants' status was studied in masons and compared with normal subjects. Red blood corpuscles (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene levels and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities decreased. Thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) level increased. Occupational exposure to cement increased lipid peroxidation but decreased antioxidants' levels in masons. Increased lipid peroxidation seems to be responsible for the reduction in RBC and Hb.