Publication: Relationship of tobacco smoking with serum vitamin B<inf>12</inf>, folic acid and haematological indices in healthy adults
Issued Date
2003-10-01
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ISSN
13689800
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2-s2.0-0142153232
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Public Health Nutrition. Vol.6, No.7 (2003), 675-681
Suggested Citation
Rungsunn Tungtrongchitr, Praneet Pongpaew, Malida Soonthornruengyot, Duangkamol Viroonudomphol, Niyomsri Vudhivai, Anchalee Tungtrongchitr, Benjaluck Phonrat, Somchai Pooudong, Frank Peter Schelp Relationship of tobacco smoking with serum vitamin B<inf>12</inf>, folic acid and haematological indices in healthy adults. Public Health Nutrition. Vol.6, No.7 (2003), 675-681. doi:10.1079/PHN2003483 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/21014
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Title
Relationship of tobacco smoking with serum vitamin B<inf>12</inf>, folic acid and haematological indices in healthy adults
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Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the effects of tobacco smoking on serum vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological parameters in healthy Thai smokers and non-smokers. Design: Cross-sectional study of smokers and non-smokers in a military unit in Bangkok, Thailand. Setting: A military unit in Thailand. Subjects: One hundred and twenty-three male smokers from a military unit in Bangkok, who participated voluntarily in the study, were investigated. Sixty-six male non-smokers from the same unit were selected as controls. Fasting blood samples were collected for investigation of vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological variables. Results: The serum folic acid concentration of smokers was lower than that of non-smokers, but was not statistically significantly different. Haemoglobin was lower in smokers than in non-smokers; 16.3% of smokers were anaemic compared with only 3.0% of non-smokers. Anaemia was not related to folate deficiency. The white blood cell count was found to be higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there were low serum folic acid concentrations in smokers compared with non-smokers, which might contribute to the development of vascular and cardiovascular diseases. The higher white blood cell count might be indicative alterations in the immune functions of smokers.