Evaluation of the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and tobacco use disorder

Objective: In recent years; vitamin D, being a steroid hormone with neuroprotective and anti-oxidant effects apart from the effects on musculoskeletal system and endocrine system has been emphasized and studies on the relation of metabolic diseases, malignancies, neuropsychiatric diseases with vitamin D has been performed. A pandemic deficiency of vitamin D is mentioned all around the world. Although it has been reported that there is a relation between tobacco consumption and vitamin D; literature is limited and no data from Turkey regarding to the tobacco consumption and vitamin D has been reported. To evaluate vitamin D levels in individuals admitted to our hospital's 'smoking cessation unit' and accordingly, to investigate the relation of vitamin D levels with tobacco dependence. Methods: Seventy-two cases between ages of 17-69 referring to smoking cessation unit were included in our study. Retrospectively, demographic data form the patients' files, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) forms were examined and levels of vitamin D were recorded. Whether the parameters conform the normal distribution or not is evaluated by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. In statistical analyses; Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskall-Wallis H test, one way ANOVA were applied. Results: Mean age of the cases was 46.5 +/- 12.3 years, 36 of them (50%) were female. The average years of smoking was 25.6 +/- 12.0 years, average daily cigarette use at admission was 21.1 +/- 9.7, and average score of FTND was 6.2 +/- 2.4. A statistical significance was determined among sex groups by means of vitamin D levels. A low but statistically significant and inverse relation has been observed between vitamin D levels and BDI score. Considering the year of smoking, height, weight, age, score of FTND and BAIQ; no statistical significance has been determined between these variables and vitamin D levels. Conclusion: Tobacco use has a relation with low levels of 25(OH) D. Although the mechanisms regarding to tobacco consumption and vitamin D deficiency are not enlightened yet; the evaluation of vitamin D levels in the routine examination of tobacco consumers, replacement of vitamin D if there is any deficiency and their exposure to daylight will be beneficial considering the neuroprotective and anti-oxidant effects of vitamin D.