RESUMO
The relationship of cigarette smoking with the body mass index, adiposity and plasma lipid levels of 88 male subjects was assessed. The level of cholesterol, L.D.L. and Triglycerides was found to be significantly higher in subjects who were heavy smokers. Daily smokers had lower B.M.I., higher cholesterol and lower skin fold thickness compared to controls. It is concluded that smoking - an important risk factor for coronary heart disease - amplifies the risk due to its independent effect on the lipid profile. Smokers differ from non smokers with lower B.M.I and skin fold thickness but the overall difference is unimpressive p = 0.21. Daily smokers had a significant increase in the mean cholesterol of 30 percent over non smokers. Triglycerides were raised by 29 percent. L.D.L. - C was 3.57 +/- 1.12 L.D.L. /H.D.L. ratio was also increased. All these changes were more marked in the heavy smokers. This explains why in prospective analysis increasing mortality and morbidity among smokers cannot be attributed to confounding variables. It is concluded that an overall similarity between different smoking groups exists mainly in terms of dyslipidaemia and constitutional differences though present are not significant