THE ASSOCIATION OF SMOKING AND DRINKING HABITS WITH SERUM PEPSINOGENS

Background. The influence of smoking on serum pepsinogen I has been assessed. However, still to be assessed are the influences of smoking on pepsinogen II and drinking on serum pepsinogens. Methods. Data were collected from 13 381 employees by questionnaire and serum tests. Multiple regression analyses were done with logarithms of serum pepsinogen I (LPI), pepsinogen II (LPII) or pepsinogen I/II ratio (LI/II) as a criterion variable and as categorized explanatory variables, sex, age, subjective symptoms in the stomach, past history of peptic ulcer, current smoking dose, past smoking amount, drinking habit and current drinking dose. Results. Current smoking dose showed dose-dependent positive associations with LPI and LI/II. Past smoking amount yielded weakly dose-dependent negative associations with LPI and LI/II. Current drinking dose showed dose-dependent negative associations with LPI and LPII. Conclusion. Current smoking elevates pepsinogen I and the I/II ratio, and it may be necessary to consider the effect of smoking when pepsinogens are used as markers for gastric cancer. Drinking reduced pepsinogen I and II, but the effect was not so large.