Abstract
Background: Tobacco chewing is associated with millions of cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and coronary artery diseases annually. Major forms of chewable tobacco contain toxicants and carcinogens. According to the World Health Report 2002, tobacco is the leading preventable cause of overall mortality as well as cardiovascular mortality worldwide.

Aims and Objective: To reveal the effect of tobacco chewing on the lipid profile.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to reveal the effect of tobacco chewing on the lipid profile in male subjects. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 60 male subjects aged 30–45 years. The subjects were divided into control group (n = 30) and study group (i.e., tobacco chewers; n = 30). All subjects were from either social class 2 or 3 according to Prasad’s modified social classification. About 5 mL venous blood sample was drawn after 10–12 h of fasting and lipid profile was analyzed.

Results: No significant difference in anthropometric parameter of the control group and the study group was observed. Triglyceride and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly (p < 0.001) in the study group (i.e., tobacco chewers) than in the control group. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) in tobacco chewers than in the control group. The mean value of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased but not significantly in tobacco chewers than in the control group.

Conclusion: Strict measures should be taken up to control the prevalence of tobacco chewing habits and to prevent the risk for diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and COPD.

Key words: Tobacco Chewing; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases; Coronary Artery Diseases; Cholesterol