Nicotine Exposure, Blood Pressure, and Inflammation in Tobacco Smokers and Chewers in a Rural Community in Nepal

Abstract

Tobacco consumption is high amongst the people of Nepal. This study was carried out in 2011 in a rural community of Nepal, to compare pathological parameters associated with tobacco use in relation to nicotine metabolism between smokers, chewers, and a control group. A total of 216 volunteers provided blood and urine samples for testing nicotine metabolites, C-reactive protein, and cell counts. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, correlation, and t-tests using STATA. Differences in blood pressure amongst the groups indicate a role of smoking in preventing a rise in BP with age, likely attributable to a different mechanism of metabolism of tobacco constituents.

Keywords :

• tobacco
• blood pressure
• nicotine metabolites
• cotinine
• differential cell counts

THE AUTHORS

Dr. Arti S. Pandey is associate professor and Head of Department of Biochemistry at Kathmandu Medical College (Basic Sciences), Bhaktapur, Nepal. She received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA, in 2007. Dr. Pandey has initiated research at Kathmandu Medical College to investigate metabolic and genetic aspects of pathological conditions rampant in Nepal. Her current areas of interest include genetic disposition to cancer, inborn errors of metabolism, and tobacco use.

Naveen K. Shreevastva is a lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, Kathmandu Medical College (Basic Sciences), Bhaktapur, Nepal. He received his masters in medical biochemistry from Kathmandu University, Kavre, Nepal, in 2007. His current area of research includes cardiac disorders associated with tobacco use.

Durga Neupane is a lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry, Kathmandu Medical College (Basic Sciences), Bhaktapur, Nepal. He has obtained his masters in medical biochemistry from B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, Nepal, in 2007. His current research involves assessment of oxidative stress in breast cancer patients in Nepal. His other research interests include genetic aspects of disease.