Smoking for a prolonged period of years influences the shortening of telomeres (the cellular structures located at the ends of chromosomes), which has been associated with greater cellular aging, regardless of the number of cigarettes that have been consumed during this time , according to the conclusions of the latest study carried out by several universities, including the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain).
Previous studies had brought to the table that people who smoke have shorter telomeres than those who do not . Now, this new research delves into it, concluding that in addition, the number of cigarettes consumed does not matter for this disastrous effect, but rather their consumption over time. That is, no matter what the daily dose, many or few cigarettes, the key is in the consumption over the years.
“According to our results, there seems to be no harm-free dose if the exposure has been prolonged over time, ” explains Fernando Bandrés, co-author of the study.
To arrive at this certainty, the researchers counted on the participation of 147 smokers (79 women and 68 men) between 25 and 65 years old , without any disease. All the volunteers filled out a questionnaire about the number of cigarettes they consumed each day and the length of time they had been consuming. In addition, they analyzed urine and blood samples to complete the study data, measuring, thanks to the blood leukocytes, the telomeres of all of them using the PCR technique. The results revealed that telomere shortening was identical in all smokers regardless of the degree of daily use, age, or any other characteristic. The mean of the participants was 21.5 years of use.
The consequences of telomere shortening can lead to accelerated general deterioration, cardiovascular disease or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
The study has been published in the journal Environmental Research .
