Abstract
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Liver disease is the 9th leading cause of death in Japan. Therefore, reviewing
whether smoking is a risk factor for liver disease is indispensable for the purpose of lengthening healthy
life expectancy.
Methods: From the results of periodic health checkups of male workers, the changes of the liver function
(AST, ALT and γGPT) over 10 years after the cessation of smoking were examined.
Results: Although the AST and ALT of the ex-smoker group showed low values compared with the base lines from
the first year to the 10th year, no significant differences were observed. Although the γGTP of the exsmoker
group showed high values compared with the base line ranging from 1.0 - 6.0 mg/dl from the 1st year
to the 10th year, no significant difference was observed. On the other hand, the AST of the smoker group
increased from the 2nd year to the 10th year, and significant differences were observed. Although ALT showed
low values compared with the base line from the 1st year to the 3rd year, it showed significant increases
compared with the base line in the 4th year, the 5th year and the 6th year. γGTO showed a significant difference
compared with the base line every year from the first year on.
Conclusion: The AST and ALT of the ex-smoker group were improved early after the cessation of smoking and
they tended to be maintained afterwards. Therefore, it was suggested that the cessation of smoking contributes
to an improvement in liver function. On the other hand, in the smoker group, AST showed a deteriorating
trend from the 2nd year to the 10th year, ALT showed a deteriorating trend in the 4th year, the 5th year and
the 8th year and γGTP showed a deteriorating trend from the 1st year to the 10th year. The burden of the
detoxication of cigarette smoke on the liver is considered to be large and it was suggested that the cessation
of smoking is important for the protection of liver.
