title: Early changes in the components of the metabolic syndrome in a group of smokers after tobacco cessation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to examine the prevalence of early changes in some components of metabolic syndrome after smoking cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight heavy smokers from the Tobacco Cessation Clinic (24 women/24 men), average age of 49.4 years, were included in this study. They smoked a mean of 19.92 cigarettes per day and had smoked 33.23 packages per year during 33.4 years. Participants were included in a treatment group based on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT); 16 participants received varenicline and the other 16 nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The target quit day was scheduled for week 3 through abrupt cessation. Abstinence was confirmed with exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) levels. Blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) were evaluated weekly. Glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDL-C), and insulin to determine the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index were determined in blood samples at weeks 1, 4, and 10. As a control group 96 healthy nonsmokers were matched by age and sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean BMI in smokers was 26.94 kg/m(2) and in nonsmokers 26.23 kg/m(2). Smokers showed hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and lower levels of HDL-C than nonsmokers. Percentages of cessation in week 3 were 81% for NRT and 93% for CBT and varenicline. The mean weight increase at the end of the treatment was 1.09 kg in the CBT group, 1.06 kg in the NRT group, and 1.17 kg in the varenicline group. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 31.25% in week 1 and 29.16% at the end. There were reductions in the number of subjects with hypertension, glucose alterations, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benefits of quitting smoking exceeded by far the risks associated with the amount of weight gained.
authors.affiliation: 1 Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Departamentos de Farmacología y Salud Pública, México, D.F., Mexico .
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ponciano-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Nayeli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paez-Martinez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villa-Romero
authors.forename: Ylse
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Grobe
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mendez-Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin; D009538:Nicotine; D002248:Carbon Monoxide