Authors:
Le-Ha C, Beilin LJ, Burrows S, Huang RC, Oddy WH, Hands B, Mori TA
Authors notes:
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2013;98(5):2126-2135
Keywords:
High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, gender, passive smoking, cardiovascular disease, public health
Abstract:
High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are influenced by gender and by genetic and environmental factors.
We aimed to assess the impact of passive smoking exposure since birth on HDL-C levels of nonsmoking adolescents at age 17 years and to determine whether there was a gender difference in the relationship between smoking exposure and HDL-C.
HDL-C levels were significantly lower in girls exposed to passive smoking compared to those not exposed; this was not observed in boys, with a significant sex interaction.
The effects of passive smoking in girls persisted after adjusting for oral contraceptive use.
This study has shown a gender difference in the relationship between passive smoking exposure since birth and HDL-C in late adolescence.
Exposure to passive smoking in girls could have adverse consequences on their risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
These findings reinforce the need for future public health measures to reduce children's exposure to passive smoking.