Relationships of cotinine and self-reported cigarette smoking with hemoglobin A1c in the U.S.: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2008.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Whether nicotine leads to a persistent increase in blood glucose levels is not clear. Our objective was to assess the relationship between cotinine, a nicotine metabolite, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)), an index of recent glycemia.

Research design and methods

We used cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2008. We limited our analysis to 17,287 adults without diabetes. We created three cotinine categories: <0.05 ng/mL, 0.05-2.99 ng/mL, and ≥3 ng/mL.

Results

Using self-report, 25% of the sample were current smokers, 24% were former smokers, and 51% were nonsmokers. Smokers had a higher mean HbA(1c) (5.36% ± 0.01 SE) compared with never smokers (5.31% ± 0.01) and former smokers (5.31% ± 0.01). I

SUBMITTER: Clair C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3177720 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature