The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Post-smoking Weight Gain

Cigarette smoking causes a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disorders, cancer, pulmonary diseases, autoimmune diseases, premature birth, and certain birth defects. Health benefits of smoking cessation start very fast after the last smoke. However, smoking cessation has significant side effects including weight gain. Several theories have been proposed to explain weight gain after smoking cessation.

Microbiome research is an upcoming, extensively followed research field that has found unsuspected connections between human health and gut occupants. Many recent studies established important roles for the gut microbiome in regulating obesity, and metabolic diseases.

The general aim of this study is to investigate the effect of smoking and smoking cessation on the intestinal microbial composition and function.

This study follows 200 healthy participants who will be recruited according to their affiliation to one of three groups:

Group 1: Non-smokers for at least 10 years Group 2: Cigarette smokers that do not plan to quit. Group 3: Cigarette smokers who plan to quit smoking. Participants who are planning to quit cigarette smoking will be offered to join a program for smoking cessation. The study will start 8 days before cessation group volunteers will stop smoking and will continue for one year after. Participants of all groups will be followed-up for one year.