Effects of smoking and smoking cessation on dietary habits of a Swiss urban population

Objectives: To assess whether current smokers eat differently than never sm okers and the relation of smoking cessation to dietary change. Design: Population-based survey from 1993-1997. Setting: The Bus Sante 2000, epidemiologic observatory of Geneva, Switzerla nd. Subjects: A representative sample of 2301 men and 2306 women resident of Ge neva, Switzerland. Results: In both genders, compared to never smokers, current heavy smokers (greater than or equal to 20 cigarettes/d) consumed daily less total vegeta bles proteins (P<0.03), carbohydrates (P<0.0001), saccharose (P<0.01), fibe rs (P<0.0001), beta-carotene (P<0.001), fruit (P<0.0001) and vegetables (P< 0.04), but they drank more alcohol (P < 0.0001) and more coffee (P < 0.005) . In addition, female current smokers ate less energy (P < 0.4), complex ca rbohydrates (P < 0.002), cereals (P < 0.003), vegetables (P < 0.0001) and l ess iron (P < 0.02). The diet of ex-smokers tended to become more similar t o that of never smokers. When longer duration of smoking cessation increase d, the consumption of total carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates increas ed (P < 0.01 and P < 0.06), and alcohol decreased (P < 0.07) in both gender s. Conclusions: As in other Western countries, the diet of Swiss smokers appea rs less healthy than that of never smokers in both men and women, while smo king cessation has beneficial aspect on the quality of the diet. Current sm oking appears to have an even stronger effect on the diet of women than on the diet of men. Sponsorship: Swiss National Fund for Scientific Research (Grants No 32.31.3 26.91, 32-37986.93 and 32-49847.96).