What a Lower Value of Fasting Plasma Glucose in Smokers

Background: There may be a significant relationship between smoking and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in the human body. Method: Consecutive daily smokers at least for a period of six months and age and sex-matched non-smokers were included into the study. Cases with regular alcohol consumption (one drink a day) and patients with inflammatory, infectious, or devastating disorders including eating disorders, malignancies, acute or chronic renal failure, cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hyper- or hypothyroidism, or heart failure were excluded from the study. Results: The study included 150 smokers (99 males) and 162 non-smokers. The mean age of smokers was 45.9 years, and 66.0% of them were male. Although the mean body weight, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and hematocrit values were similar in both groups, FPG value was lower in the smokers (101.9 versus 111.9 mg/dL, p<0.01), significantly. Similarly, high density lipoproteins (HDL) value was lower in the smokers (41.1 versus 44.0 mg/dL, p<0.05), again. On the other hand, triglycerides (163.3 versus 151.8 mg/dL, p<0.05), low density lipoproteins (LDL) (126.1 versus 117.4 mg/dL, p<0.05), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (10.8 versus 9.4 mm/h, p<0.05), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (2.5 versus 2.1 mg/L, p<0.05) values were all higher in the smokers, significantly. Conclusion: Smoking causes a low-grade systemic inflammation on vascular endothelium terminating with an accelerated atherosclerosis-induced end-organ insufficiencies all over the body. FPG and HDL may be negative whereas triglycerides, LDL, ESR, and CRP positive acute phase reactants indicating the inflammatory effects of smoking in the human body.