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Relationship of tobacco smoking with serum vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological indices in healthy adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2006

Rungsunn Tungtrongchitr ,
Praneet Pongpaew ,
Malida Soonthornruengyot ,
Duangkamol Viroonudomphol ,
Niyomsri Vudhivai ,
Anchalee Tungtrongchitr ,
Benjaluck Phonrat ,
Somchai Pooudong  and
Frank Peter Schelp
Rungsunn Tungtrongchitr
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Praneet Pongpaew*
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Malida Soonthornruengyot
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Duangkamol Viroonudomphol
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Niyomsri Vudhivai
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Anchalee Tungtrongchitr
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Benjaluck Phonrat
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Somchai Pooudong
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Frank Peter Schelp
Affiliation:
Center for Humanity and Health Sciences, Free University, Berlin and Humbolt University, Berlin, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: Email tmrtg@mahidol.ac.th
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Abstract

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Objectives:

To investigate the effects of tobacco smoking on serum vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological parameters in healthy Thai smokers and non-smokers.

Design:

Cross-sectional study of smokers and non-smokers in a military unit in Bangkok, Thailand.

Setting:

A military unit in Thailand.

Subjects:

One hundred and twenty-three male smokers from a military unit in Bangkok, who participated voluntarily in the study, were investigated. Sixty-six male non-smokers from the same unit were selected as controls. Fasting blood samples were collected for investigation of vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological variables.

Results:

The serum folic acid concentration of smokers was lower than that of non-smokers, but was not statistically significantly different. Haemoglobin was lower in smokers than in non-smokers; 16.3% of smokers were anaemic compared with only 3.0% of non-smokers. Anaemia was not related to folate deficiency. The white blood cell count was found to be higher in smokers than in non-smokers.

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest that there were low serum folic acid concentrations in smokers compared with non-smokers, which might contribute to the development of vascular and cardiovascular diseases. The higher white blood cell count might be indicative alterations in the immune functions of smokers.

Keywords

Vitamin B12Folic acidHaematological parametersSmokers
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 6 , Issue 7 , October 2003 , pp. 675 - 681
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2003

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