Which environmental factor is specifically linked to changes in metabolism due to smoking?

Which environmental factor is specifically linked to changes in metabolism due to smoking?

• A. Diet
• B. Environment
• C. Exercise
• D. Smoking

Answer: (D)

Smoking acts as the environmental factor that changes metabolism by inducing hepatic enzymes, especially CYP1A2. This enzyme induction speeds up the metabolism of certain drugs, altering their blood levels and potentially requiring dose adjustments. The link is specific to tobacco exposure, whereas diet or exercise influence metabolism in different ways but don’t directly cause the enzyme induction patterns seen with smoking. If someone stops smoking, these enzyme levels gradually revert toward baseline over weeks.

Smoking acts as the environmental factor that changes metabolism by inducing hepatic enzymes, especially CYP1A2. This enzyme induction speeds up the metabolism of certain drugs, altering their blood levels and potentially requiring dose adjustments. The link is specific to tobacco exposure, whereas diet or exercise influence metabolism in different ways but don’t directly cause the enzyme induction patterns seen with smoking. If someone stops smoking, these enzyme levels gradually revert toward baseline over weeks.