Smoking is known to increase the risk of lung cancer and accelerate skin aging, but recent research suggests that it can also alter blood composition. Swedish scientists have discovered that male smokers often lack the Y chromosome in their white blood cells, which could be one of the reasons why smoking increases the risk of other types of cancer in men. The study, conducted by Lars Forsberg and his colleagues at Uppsala University, involved 6,014 male participants and found a significant decrease in the Y chromosome in the leukocytes of some of the subjects. The researchers published their findings in the journal Science.
The study revealed that the loss of the Y chromosome was more common in heavy smokers, and the researchers suggest that this could make the male body more susceptible to cancer. While smoking is a well-known risk factor for lung cancer, it is not fully understood why it increases the risk of other types of cancer that are not related to the respiratory system. The study also found that the blood composition of ex-smokers who had quit for several years had returned to normal, highlighting the importance of quitting smoking.
The researchers emphasize that further medical studies are needed to determine how the loss of the Y chromosome affects the immune system and whether it is a significant risk factor for cancer. However, the study provides a possible explanation for why smoking is a greater risk factor for cancer in men than in women. The findings underscore the importance of quitting smoking to reduce the risk of cancer and other health problems associated with smoking.
