Impact of smoking continues even after quitting

A new study including an Indian-origin scientist has found that cigarette smoking may impair pancreatic duct cell function even after quitting, putting all smokers at risk of compromised digestive function regardless of age, gender and alcohol intake. In the study, researchers from Centre for Pancreatic Disease at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston assessed pancreatic duct cell function in smokers and non-smokers (current and past). A total of 131 subjects (74 smoked and 57 never smoked) underwent secretin-stimulated endoscopic pancreatic function testing (ePFT), for pancreatic fluid bicarbonate analysis. Cigarette smoking exposure was found to be associated with an abnormal ePFT result, and there was no statistical difference in peak bicarbonate concentration between current and former smokers, according to the results. The risk of pancreatic duct cell dysfunction was 56.78 per cent in former or current smokers and 26.32 per cent in non-smokers, according to Vivek Kadiyala, MD, who presented the findings. "Our data suggests the risk of duct cell dysfunction was doubled in patients who smoked compared to non-smokers," said Dr. Kadiyala. "These findings indicate that anyone with a history of smoking, either current or past is at greater risk of impaired pancreatic duct cell function," said Dr. Kadiyala. The study has been presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC.