FEV ₁ dynamics and total NO ₃ -/ NO ₂ - level in exhaled breath condensate of current smokers

The study aim was to investigate pre- and post-exercise FEV 1 level and the level of total NO 3 -/ NO 2 - in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in smokers compared to non-smokers. The control group included healthy non-smokers aged 18 - 35 years (those with no diagnosed respiratory diseases). The second group included current smokers aged 18 - 35 years (smoking history of ≥ 3 years) without respiratory pathology. Both groups were studied at rest, post-exercise FEV 1 level was also measured after 10 minutes jogging. The 1.6-fold reduced basal level of NO metabolites in EBC was found in smokers compared to non-smokers (1,42 ± 0,11 mkmol/l and 2,4 ± 0,26 mkmol/l respectively, p <0.05). Significant differences in post-exercise FEV 1 level in smokers and non-smokers were not observed probably due to the small smoking history. Nevertheless, post-exercise FEV 1 level in smokers was 1.3-fold lower than in non-smoking group. Thus, in healthy smokers the reduced respiratory functional capacity was found to be associated with impaired NO synthesis in the lungs even at relatively small smoking history.