Serum biochemical profiling in tobacco-exposed individuals: Evaluating metabolic alterations and gamma-glutamyl transferase as an early marker of oxidative stress.

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco has 60+ carcinogens, which cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, and chronic inflammation, highlighting the need for serum biomarkers in users to detect early changes. The present study aims to study the alterations of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total proteins, and albumin in individuals with tobacco habit.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: This study constituted 90 subjects. 30 tobacco users without lesions (Group 1), 30 with tobacco-associated lesions (Group 2), and 30 healthy controls without tobacco habit (Group 3). Study participants were evaluated for serum TG, TC, GGT, total proteins, and albumin.

RESULTS

The TC and TG were highest in subjects of Group 2 as compared to Groups 1 and 3. GGT was highest in subjects of Group 1 as compared to Groups 2 and 3, although the difference was not significant. There was no significant difference between the levels of total protein and albumin among all the groups.

CONCLUSION

Biochemical changes may occur early in tobacco users, even before onset of visible lesions. A rise in serum GGT was seen in tobacco-exposed individuals, indicating its possible role as an early marker of oxidative stress. This study also noted a significant increase in TC levels in tobacco users with oral lesions, suggesting a link between lipid alterations and the carcinogenic process. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of these metabolic alterations requires validation through larger multicentric studies. Serum biochemical profiling thus holds promise as a non-invasive tool for early risk assessment in tobacco users.