SERUM VITAMIN B-3 LEVELS: A COMPARITIVE STUDY BETWEEN SMOKERS AND NON-SMOKERS

Smoking is a bad habit observed in every society all over the world with multiple consequences like from heart and lung diseases to malignancies disturbing the moral, social and economic status of individuals. Vitamin B-3 (niacin/nicotinamide), is water soluble in nature having crucial functions in living cells. The common sources are Fish, Meat, Kidney, Liver, Nuts, vegetables, tea and Coffee. Vitamin B-3 in its phosphorylated form (NADP+/NADPH) performs protection against reactive oxygen species induced injuries in multiple biosynthetic pathways. Our objective for this study was to evaluate and compare serum vitamin B-3 levels in smokers and non-smokers. This study was conducted at Isra university hospital Hyderabad from June 2016-December 2016. Smokers and non-smoker subjects were selected by probability sampling though inclusion and exclusion criteria after informed written consent following institutional ethical approval of the project. Sample size was 60 with 30 nonsmokers subjects in group A as control group and 30 smokers in group B experimental group. Demographic data was sought on designed proforma. Blood was collected from subjects under aseptic measures and analyzed in Isra university lab for serum vitamin B3 levels. Mean serum vitamin B6 level, age and weight in two groups was compared on t-test using SPSS Version 22 along with frequency and percentage. Serum vitamin B-3 was noted as 0.350 +/- 0.12 and 1.54 +/- 0.32 in smokers and non-smokers respectively p-value 0.001. Mean age in group A (nonsmokers) was 33.5 years and group B was (smokers) was 37.4 years p-value 0.59 while age range was 26-44 years. BMI was nonsignificant between the two groups 29.47+3.81 and 27.71+3.56Kg/m2 p-value 0.67. There was a significant difference in serum vitamin B-3 levels between the smokers and non-smokers