Table 1 Samples’ characteristics at baseline and 3 months and 6 months after smoking cessation

Age (years)^a

56.1 ± 9.4

–

–

Female sex^a

16 (45.7)

–

–

BMI (kg/m²)

27.1 ± 3.7

28.6 ± 3.6^*

29.2 ± 3.5^*,**

Smoking (pack-years)^a

54.3 ± 26.7

–

–

Exhaled CO

14.7 ± 9.4

4.3 ± 2.5^*

4.0 ± 2.7^*

Serum leptin (ng/ml)

6.9 ± 3.1

10.5 ± 6.8^*

6.5 ± 5.2^**

Serum adiponectin (μg/ml)

9.5 ± 2.8

11.8 ± 5.5^*

9.6 ± 5.2

CRP (mg/dl)

0.8 ± 1.1

0.3 ± 0.3^*

0.3 ± 0.3^*