The Associations Between Smoking Habits and Serum Triglyceride or Hemoglobin A1c Levels Differ According to Visceral Fat Accumulation

Abstract

BackgroundWhether smokers and former smokers have worse lipid profiles or glucose levels than non-smokers remains unclear.MethodsThe subjects were 1152 Japanese males aged 42 to 81 years. The subjects were divided according to their smoking habits (nonsmokers, former smokers, and current smokers) and their visceral fat area (VFA) (<100 cm2 and ≥100 cm2).ResultsThe serum triglyceride (TG) levels of 835 males were assessed. In the VFA ≥100 cm2 group, a significantly greater proportion of current smokers (47.3%) exhibited TG levels of ≥150 mg/dL compared with former smokers (36.4%) and non-smokers (18.8%). The difference in TG level distribution between former smokers and non-smokers was also significant. However, among the subjects with VFA of <100 cm2, the TG levels of the three smoking habit groups did not differ. The serum hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of 877 males were also assessed. In the VFA <100 cm2 group, significantly higher proportions of current smokers (17.9%) and former smokers (14.9%) demonstrated HbA1c levels of ≥5.6% compared with non-smokers (6.3%). In contrast, in the VFA ≥100 cm2 group, significantly fewer former smokers displayed HbA1c levels of ≥5.6% compared with non-smokers and current smokers. Furthermore, the interaction between smoking habits and VFA was associated with the subjects’ TG and HbA1c concentrations, and the associations of TG and HbA1c concentrations and smoking habits varied according to VFA.ConclusionsBoth smoking habits and VFA exhibited associations with TG and HbA1c concentrations. The associations between smoking habits and these parameters differed according to VFA.

Men who were thin during early adulthood exhibited greater weight gain‐associated visceral fat accumulation in a study of middle‐aged Japanese men

“…As a consequence, VFA might not increase in smokers. However, even if they exhibit little VF, smokers have higher blood haemoglobin A1c levels than those who do not smoke . Therefore, smoking in order to prevent weight gain is not advisable.…”

Associations between smoking and lipid/lipoprotein concentrations among US adults aged ≥20 years

“…Among Japanese males aged 42–81 years, those who had visceral area ≥100 cm 2 , also had higher proportion of abnormal TG (≥150 mg/dL), and this risk factor was further modified in relationship to their smoking status, with 18.8%, 17.3%, and 36.4% among nonsmokers, former smokers, and current smokers, respectively, but TG levels were not found to differ among these groups when visceral area was <100 cm 2 . 7 Thus, an interaction between smoking and body fat distribution was found to affect TG levels. Håglin et al 8 reported female smokers who never had type 2 diabetes and male smokers who currently had type 2 diabetes to have higher levels of TG than nonsmokers.…”

Association between glycated hemoglobin A1c levels with age and gender in Chinese adults with no prior diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

“…the study was as follows: i) Han ethnicity; ii) age ≥18 years; iii) resident of mainland China for >1 year; and iv) no previous diagnosis of diabetes. Exclusion criteria was as follows: Previously known diabetes, pregnancy, heart/liver/kidney dysfunction, long-term oral administration of drugs affecting blood glucose, long-term history of smoking, anemia/hemoglobinopathies, and surgery within the past month (13,18). The age range of the participants was divided into seven groups: 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and ≥80 years.…”