Effect of Smoking on the blood concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D and Testosterone at High and Low Altitude

Objective: This study investigated
the effect of cigarette smoking and altitude on the blood level of 25 hydroxyvitamin-D and testosterone and the carotid
arteries thickness. Methods: This observational case- control study involved 37
non-smokers and 24 smokers from high altitude (≥2245 meters above sea level),
and 40 smokers and 40 nonsmokers from low altitude area (39-283 meters above
sea level). The blood testosterone level was determined spectrophotmetrically
using a kit from HUMAN diagnostics while the 25-hyroxyvitamin concentration was measured by the use of the
ELISA kit form CTK Bioteck. The IMT of the left and right carotid arteries was
determined using the ultrasound imaging technique. Results: The smoking significantly
increased the intima media thickness of the right and left carotid arteries at
high and low altitudes (p- value ≤ 0.001). Smoking at high altitude
significantly increased the concentration of 25- hydroxyvitamin D and
testosterone while at low altitude it significantly decreased both of them (p-
value≤ 0.046). Conclusion: At
high altitude, smoking had positive effect on the blood concentration of 25-
hydroxyvitamin D and testosterone whereas smoking at low altitude significantly
decreased the blood concentration of both of 25- hydroxyvitamin D and
testosterone.