THE INSULIN-RESISTANCE SYNDROME IN SMOKERS IS RELATED TO SMOKING-HABITS

The relationship between smoking habits, insulin resistance, and relat ed risk factors for cardiovascular disease was examined in 57 middle-a ged male smokers whose degree of insulin resistance was quantified by using the euglycemic clamp technique. Smoking habits correlated with d egree of insulin resistance and consequently with various manifestatio ns of the insulin resistance syndrome including levels of insulin, hig h-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and plasminogen acti vator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity. Smoking habits, independent of deg ree of insulin resistance, were also related to levels of total choles terol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as triglycerides . Stepwise regression analyses considering the effects of age, lean bo dy mass, body fat, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, and alcohol consu mption showed that only smoking habits and percent body fat were indep endently related to degree of insulin resistance. This study shows tha t insulin resistance and the insulin resistance syndrome are important but not unique contributors to the strong risk profile for cardiovasc ular disease in middle-aged men who smoke.