Light or regular cigarettes consumption: effect on endothelial function

BACKGROUND: Mistaken beliefs about the possible benefits of light cigarettes are still widespread even in countries where considerable efforts have been made to educate population about the misconception of ‘‘light”. Many smokers, in fact, use light cigarettes in the belief that this may reduce the risks of smoking or as a first step toward stopping smoking. A reduced flow mediated dilation (FMD%) of the brachial arteries is a well-recognized marker of endothelial dysfunction which can be used to evaluate the vascular effects of both chronic and acute cigarette smoking. In the present study we have evaluated whether the effect of chronic or acute cigarette smoking on endothelial function is related to the cigarette content of tar, nicotine or carbon-monoxide reported on the pack. METHODS: 206 subject (122 men, age 51.7±12.7 yr) participated in the study. Smoking habits were recorded and FMD% were measured by B-mode ultrasound. The chronic and acute effect on FMD% of the cigarettes’ content of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (combined to define “light” or “regular” cigarettes) was evaluated before and after adjustment for confounders. The chronic effect was assessed in 53 consumers of light cigarettes, 85 consumers of regular cigarettes and 68 never smokers. The acute effect was assessed in 51 and 29 smokers, who smoked a single light or regular cigarette smokers, respectively. In these subjects, FMD% was measured before and 10 min after smoking. RESULTS: When compared to FMD% of never smokers (8.86±3.41%), chronic consumption of both light and regular cigarette was associated with reduced FMD% (5.66±3.18% and 6.15±3.33%, respectively; both p<0.0001). No difference between FMD% of light- and regular-cigarettes consumers was observed (p>0.05). Both types of cigarettes acutely reduced FMD% (p<0.05 for both), but also in this case the effect with light and regular cigarettes was not significantly different (ΔFMD= -0.88±2.12% and 1.17±2.71 for light and regular cigarettes, respectively p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of light cigarettes does not reduce the detrimental effect of smoking on FMD% observed in consumers of regular cigarettes.