Smoking cessation increases serum adiponectin levels in an apparently healthy Greek population.
BACKGROUND
Smoking has been associated with low serum levels of adiponectin, an adipocytokine with insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. The objective of this study was to assess the early effect on adiponectin levels of smoking cessation supported by bupropion.


METHODS
Apparently healthy smokers of both sexes with no additional cardiovascular risk factors were administered 150mg sustained-release bupropion twice daily for 9 weeks. Quitters constituted the active group and non-quitters the control group. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed for the measurement of serum adiponectin and cotinine, the latter used for validation of self-reported abstinence.


RESULTS
Among the 106 participants (mean age 44.5+/-11.3 years, 57 females, Brinkman index 512.2+/-98.4, basal adiponectin 7.2+/-1.5mg/L), 45 (42.5%) had quitted smoking at week 9. Quitters' post-cessation adiponectin levels were significantly increased (mean difference with baseline 1.9+/-0.8mg/L, 95% CI 1.2, 2.3; p<0.001), while non-quitters' adiponectin remained unaltered. A multiple regression model including female gender (standardized beta coefficient=0.480, p=0.002), age (0.355, p=0.003), body mass index (BMI) (-0.308, p=0.005), waist circumference (-0.276, p=0.008), smoking status (-0.255, p=0.010), and cotinine levels (-0.233, p=0.021) explained about two thirds of the variation in adiponectin levels (adjusted R(2)=0.656).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum adiponectin levels appear to increase considerably within 2 months after smoking cessation. This finding may provide further insight into the mechanisms related to the detrimental effects of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
Efstathiou
Stamatis P
SP
Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, 'Hygeias Melathron', Athens, Greece. stamatise@gmail.com
Skeva
Irini I
II
Dimas
Cleanthi
C
Panagiotou
Anna
A
Parisi
Kleo
K
Tzanoumis
Labros
L
Kafouri
Anna
A
Bakratsas
Konstantinos
K
Mountokalakis
Theodore D
TD
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D016642:Bupropion / Q000494:pharmacology; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy
D052242:Adiponectin; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D016642:Bupropion