Abstract

This study was done to investigate the effect of adolescent smoking on dietary intakes and nutritional status of serum lipids and antioxidant vitamins. Subjects were 82 somkers whose average pack-year was 0.73, and 85 nonsmokers of male technical high school students in Seoul. Anthropometric measurement was performed and % body fat was also analyzed by Bioelectrical Impedance Fatness Analyzer(GIF-891). Dietary intakes and habits were examined through questionnaires and nutrient intakes were analyzed by Computer Aided Nutritional (CAN) analysis programs. Serum TG and total cholesterol levels were measured by Spotchem sp-4410 and serum HDL-cholesterol levels were measured by test kit. serum vitamin C level was measured by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method and serum levels of vitamin A and vitamin E were measured by HPLC. All data were statistically analyzed by SAS PC package program. There was a significant difference in body fat percentage and systolic blood pressure while other anthropometric measurements were not different between smokers and monsmokers. Caloric intakes(2335 kcal) in adolescent smokers tended to be higher than that of nonsmokers (2,175 kcal) but the difference was not statistically significant. Intakes of protein(76.67g) and niacin(16.49 mg) in adolescent male smokers were significantly higher(P<0.05) than those of nonsmokers although other nutrient intakes were not significantly different. Analysis of serum lipids showed that serum HDL-cholesterol level of smokers was significantly different. Analysis of serum lipids showed that serum HDL-cholesterol level of smokers was significantly lower(p<0.05) than that of nonsmokers, whereas other lipid levels were not significantly different. Serum vitamin C level was also significantly lower(p<0.05) in adolescent smokers than in nonsmokers. In addition, serum vitamin E level, which was 7.85 mg/1 in smokers, was lower than that of 9.20 mg/1 in nonsmokers(p<0.05) while serum vitamin A level was not significantly different between the two groups. These results indicate that cigarette smoking in adolescence decreases serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, vitamin C and vitamin E even thoughth their smoking history is very short.

• Keywords: dietary intakes; adolescent male smokers; serum lipids; antioxidant vitamins; nutritional status