OBJECTIVE: We aimed to measure leptin and calorie intake among different nicotine dependent groups.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SETTING: Research department in school of medical sciences.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Subjects were selected by purposive (non-probability) sampling and categorized as having low, moderate and high nicotine dependency based on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score. Diet was recorded by interview. Anthropometry, blood pressure, body composition, lipid profile, and physical activity level were measured accordingly. Fasting serum leptin was measured using a commercial ELISA kit.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Nicotine dependency, 24-hour diet, clinical anthropometric and clinical measurements.
RESULTS: In 107 Malay male smokers leptin concentration was inversely correlated with nicotine dependence. However, body weight, smoking period, blood pressure, body composition, lipid profile and physical activity level were not significantly different among low, moderately and highly dependent smoking groups. Leptin concentration and total calorie intake were also not significantly different among these groups.
CONCLUSION: Leptin concentration was inversely correlated with nicotine dependence, but leptin concentration and total calorie intake status were not significantly different among our different nicotine dependency subjects.
LIMITATIONS: Purposive sampling for subject recruitment and inaccurate information in the self-administered questionnaire.
FINDINGS: We studied 127 women; and based on their hair nicotine levels measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 25 of them were categorized as having higher hair nicotine levels, 25 were grouped as having lower hair nicotine and 77 women were grouped into the non-detected group. The non-detected group did not have detectable levels of hair nicotine. Anthropometry, blood pressure (BP), lipid profile and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured accordingly. Microvascular endothelial function was assessed non-invasively using laser Doppler fluximetry and the process of iontophoresis involving acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside as endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilators respectively. The mean hair nicotine levels for higher and lower hair nicotine groups were 0.74 (1.04) and 0.05 (0.01) ng/mg respectively. There were no significant differences in anthropometry, BP, lipid profile and hsCRP between these groups. There were also no significant differences in the microvascular perfusion and endothelial function between these groups.
CONCLUSION: In this study, generally healthy non-smoking women who have higher, lower and non-detected hair nicotine levels did not show significant differences in their microvascular endothelial function. Low levels of SHS exposure among generally healthy non-smoking women may not significantly impair their microvascular endothelial function.
METHODS: Stable patients presenting with angina were recruited and, based on results from coronary angiography, were categorized into OCAD (coronary stenosis of ≥50%) and NOCAD (stenosis <50%) groups. A control group with no history of angina was also recruited. Forearm skin microvascular reactivity was measured using the laser Doppler blood perfusion monitor and the process of postocclusive skin reactive hyperemia (PORH).
RESULTS: Patients were categorized into OCAD (n = 42), NOCAD (n = 40), and control (n = 39) groups. Compared with the control group, the PORH perfusion percent change (PORH% change) was significantly lower in the OCAD and NOCAD groups. No significant differences were noted between the OCAD and NOCAD groups. Additionally, the NOCAD group without any coronary obstruction takes a longer time to reach peak perfusion and had lower PORH% change compared with the nonangina control group.
CONCLUSION: Angina patients with NOCAD have microvascular dysfunction as demonstrated by reduced magnitude of reperfusion with an ischemic stimulus. NOCAD patients without coronary obstruction also displayed a slower response to reperfusion.
METHODS: Seventy-six obese subjects were randomly placed into two groups. The first group received three daily 120 mg dosages of orlistat for nine months (n=39), and the second group received a once daily 10 or 15 mg dosage of sibutramine for nine months (n=37). Baseline measurements for weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BF), visceral fat (VF), adiponectin, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin, pancreatic B cell secretory capacity (HOMA%B), insulin sensitivity (HOMA%S), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were performed and repeated during the sixth and ninth months of treatment.
RESULTS: Twenty-four subjects completed the trial in both groups. For both groups, weight, BMI, WC, BF, VF, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP were significantly lower at the end of the nine month intervention. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups for these parameters with nine months treatment. There was a significant decrease in FPG in orlistat group; while fasting insulin and HOMA%B reduced in sibutramine group. For both groups, there were also significant increases in adiponectin levels and HOMA%S at the end of the nine month intervention.
CONCLUSION: Nine months of treatment with orlistat and sibutramine not only reduced weight but also significantly improved BMI, WC, BF, VF, FPG, adiponectin, fasting insulin, HOMA%B, HOMA%S, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP. These improvements could prove useful in the reduction of metabolic and cardiovascular risks in obese subjects.