No acute effects of smoking and nicotine nasal spray on lipolysis measured by subcutaneous microdialysis

Smoking is associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and markers of the insulin resistance syndrome. This study investigated adipose tissue lipolysis in situ by subcutaneous microdialysis twice in 10 healthy, male smokers after smoking four cigarettes over 2 h and after the administration of an equal amount of nicotine given as nasal spray (NNS). Glucose and insulin levels, in situ lipolysis and adipose tissue blood flow were studied in the post-absorptive state and after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Post-absorptively, acute smoking and NNS increased neither subcutaneous adipose tissue glycerol production nor plasma free fatty acid (FFA) or glycerol levels. After the OGTT, plasma insulin and lactate levels were significantly higher after smoking, whereas FFA levels were higher after NNS. Normal smoking or the administration of a normal dose of NNS caused only minor metabolic changes. Thus, it does not seem likely that increased lipolysis is an important contributor to the dyslipidaemia seen in smokers.