Smoking Affects Peripheral Organs
Research provides
new evidence that smoking impairs physical and mental health.
Using novel
radiotracing technology, researchers at the Brookhaven National Laboratory
determined smoking lowers levels of monoamine oxidase B in peripheral organs,
including the kidneys, heart, lungs and spleen.
The enzyme MAO
B is critical in regulating the amount of neurotransmitters and dietary
amines in the body so appropriate MAO levels are strongly linked to physical
and mental wellbeing.
"When we think
about smoking and smoking toxicity, we usually think of the lungs," said
Brookhaven chemist Joanna Fowler. "Here we see a very marked effect of
smoking on one of the major enzymes in the body, and we see that this effect
extends far beyond the lungs."
Previous studies
show smoking lowers MOA B levels in the brain.
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Copyright 2003 by United
Press International.
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