LAUSR

Background: Smoking among individuals remains a major health problem worldwide as it is associated with certain disease conditions and decrease in concentration of several vitamins. Aim: This study was aimed at providing information on cobalamin, folate and pyridoxal 5-phosphate levels of male cigarette smokers within Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Methods: Ninety adult male subjects participated in the study with 60 as cigarette smokers and 30 as nonsmokers. Serum cobalamin and folate levels were estimated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique while packed cell volume was estimated using microhematocrit method. Vitamin B6 status was determined using fasting plasma concentrations of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. Plasma PLP was measured by quantification of its semicarbazide derivative using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Results: Results show that male cigarette smokers had significantly higher packed cell volume (P = 0.014) and serum cobalamin (P = 0.005) ...