Association of tobacco smoke exposure with metabolic profile from childhood to early adulthood: the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project

Abstract

Aims To investigate the associations between passive tobacco smoke exposure and daily smoking with a comprehensive metabolic profile, measured repeatedly from childhood to adulthood Methods Study cohort was derived from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP). Smoking status was and results obtained by questionnaire, while serum cotinine concentrations were measured using gas chromatography. Metabolic measures were quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics at 9 (n = 539), 11 (n = 536), 13 (n = 525), 15 (n = 488), 17 (n = 455), and 19 (n = 409) years. Association of passive tobacco smoke exposure with metabolic profile compared participants who reported less-than-weekly smoking and had serum cotinine concentration <1 ng/mL (no exposure) with those whose cotinine concentration was ≥10 ng/mL (passive tobacco smoke exposure). Associations of daily smoking with metabolic profile in adolescence were analysed by comparing participants reporting daily smoking with those reporting no tobacco use and having serum cotinine concentrations <1 ng/mL. Passive tobacco smoke exposure was directly associated with the serum ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids [β = 0.34 standard deviation (SD), (0.17–0.51), P < 0.0001] and inversely associated with the serum ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Exposure to passive tobacco smoke was directly associated with very-low-density lipoprotein particle size [β = 0.28 SD, (0.12–0.45), P = 0.001] and inversely associated with HDL particle size {β = −0.21 SD, [−0.34 to −0.07], P = 0.003}. Daily smokers exhibited a similar metabolic profile to those exposed to passive tobacco smoke. These results persisted after adjusting for body mass index, STRIP study group allocation, dietary target score, pubertal status, and parental socio-economic status Conclusion Both passive and active tobacco smoke exposures during childhood and adolescence are detrimentally associated with circulating metabolic measures indicative of increased cardio-metabolic risk. Lay summary A substantial proportion of children are affected by tobacco smoke exposure worldwide, and early life exposure to passive tobacco smoke may be even more harmful than active smoking in terms of cardiovascular disease risk. Our study suggests the following: • Passive tobacco smoke exposure during childhood is associated with metabolic measures indicative of increased cardiometabolic risk and that the association profile is similar with active daily smoking during adolescence. • Reducing both active and passive tobacco smoke exposures during childhood and adolescence could reduce the risk of future cardio-metabolic disease.