Cigarette Smoking, HDL-C Subfractions, and Lecithin: Cholesterol Acyltransferase in Collegiate Men

Abstract

 Background Much of the published data on the relationship of cigarette smoking (CS) with serum lipids and lipoproteins is based on studies of middle-aged individuals. Data on young men is rare. This study compared smokers and nonsmokers in terms of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) subfractions and lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity among Japanese collegiate men.
 Methods Twenty-six current smokers were individually matched for age and body mass index with 26 non-smokers.
 Results The smokers smoked 12.2±5.8 (2 to 20) cigarettes per day at the time of the study and had been smoking for 3.1±1.7 (0.25 to 7.0) years. The distributions of physically active subjects and the mean values of METs·hour/week were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Smokers showed significantly higher log alcohol intake than the non-smokers. Smokers showed significantly higher HDL₂-C and lower DL₃-C than non-smokers. However, when the mean values were adjusted for log alcohol intake, smokers showed significantly lower HDL-C, HDL₂-C, and apolipoprotein A-I than nonsmokers.
 Conclusion These results suggest that the known associations of CS with HDL-C subfractions in older adults are already apparent in young men.