It is believed that while normal people may suffer complications of active and passive cigarette smoking, diabetes patients may suffer more. This study therefore aimed at investigating the toxicological effects of cigarette smoke on some biochemical parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 8/group) were divided into three groups, 2 experimental groups group 1 was diabetic and exposed to cigarette smoke while group 2 was diabetic but unexposed and one control (group 3). Animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks of exposure to cigarette smoke and the blood glucose, total protein, total (cholesterol, vitamin C and malondialdehyde concentrations were determined. Diabetic rats exposed to cigarette smoke (group 1) showed significant increases (p < 0.05) in the blood glucose and MDA concentrations and significant decreases (p < 0.05) in the total protein, total cholesterol and vitamin C concentrations compared to groups 2 and 3. From the results, it could be deduced that exposure to cigarette smoke may increase diabetic complications.
V.N. Ogugua, E.G. Anaduaka, N.T. Emmanuel, D.E. Afamefuna
