Tobacco smoke exposure is associated with attenuated endothelial function in 11-year-old healthy children.
BACKGROUND
Passive smoking is associated with early arterial damage in adults, but its effect on endothelial function in children is unknown.


RESULTS
Serum cotinine concentration was measured annually in children between 8 and 11 years of age who had participated since infancy in a randomized, prospective atherosclerosis prevention trial (Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project for children [STRIP]). At age 11, endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilatory responses of the brachial artery were examined with high-resolution ultrasound in 402 children. These children were divided into 3 groups according to serum cotinine concentrations: the noncotinine group (nondetectable cotinine, n=229), the low cotinine group (cotinine between 0.2 and 1.6 ng/mL, n=134), and the top decile cotinine group (cotinine > or = 1.7 ng/mL, n=39). Longitudinal cotinine data in children aged 8 to 11 years and ultrasound studies were available in 327 children. At age 11, the increase in cotinine concentration was associated with attenuated peak flow-mediated dilation response (mean+/-SD: the noncotinine group 9.10+/-3.88%, the low-cotinine group 8.57+/-3.78%, and the top-decile cotinine group 7.73+/-3.85%; P=0.03 for trend). Similarly, total dilation response (the area under the dilation response versus time curve between 40 and 180 seconds after hyperemia) was affected by the cotinine level (P=0.02 for trend). These trends were not explained by traditional atherosclerosis risk factors. Arterial measures and passive smoking showed even stronger associations when longitudinal cotinine data were used (peak flow-mediated dilation, P=0.01 for trend; total dilation response, P=0.008 for trend).


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke confirmed by serum cotinine concentrations impairs endothelial function in a dose-dependent manner in 11-year-old children.
Kallio
Katariina
K
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland. katariina.kallio@utu.fi
Jokinen
Eero
E
Raitakari
Olli T
OT
Hämäläinen
Mauri
M
Siltala
Marja
M
Volanen
Iina
I
Kaitosaari
Tuuli
T
Viikari
Jorma
J
Rönnemaa
Tapani
T
Simell
Olli
O
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003367:Cotinine