Smoking ‘alters genes associated with health risks’

A new study from Sweden has suggested that many of the health problems associated with smoking could have genetic causes.

Research from Uppsala University and Uppsala Clinical Research Centre reveals that smoking creates epigenetic modifications that affect the activity of numerous genes associated with health problems for smokers, such as increased risk for cancer and diabetes.

A large number of genes that were altered in smokers were found to be unchanged among users of non-smoke tobacco, suggesting the genetic impact is caused by the hundreds of different elements that are formed when the tobacco is burnt.

Study leader Asa Johansson, researcher at the Uppsala Clinical Research Centre, said: "The increased disease risk associated with smoking is partly caused by epigenetic changes. A better understanding of the molecular mechanism behind diseases and reduced body function might lead to improved drugs and therapies."

This comes after a study from the Cancer Prevention Institute of California recently revealed that smoking after a cancer diagnosis will increase a patient's risk of death.