Sterol Content in Cigarette Tobacco and Smoke

Cholesterol-4-¹⁴C and b-sitosterol-4-¹⁴C were incorporated into cigarettes and their presence in mainstream smoke was studied. The transfer of ¹⁴C-labelled cholesterol to mainstream smoke was 20.27 %, of which 16.25 % was in trapped smoke condensates and 4.02 % in butts; only 0.004 % was in ashes. The transfer of ¹⁴C-labelled b-sitosterol to mainstream smoke was 16.20 %, of which 13.11 % was in trapped smoke condensates and 3.09 % in butts; only 0.007 % was in ashes. The relative composition of free sterols, steryl esters, and bound glycosides in cigarette tobacco and in trapped smoke condensates was also studied. Fractions of free sterols and steryl glycosides were higher while fraction of esters was lower in trapped smoke condensates as compared to cigarette tobacco. Comparison of four individual sterols (cholesteroI, campesterol, stigmasterol and b-sitosterol) was studied in cigarette tobacco and cigarette smoke (smoke condensates, butts, wrapping papers from butts). A slight increase of cholesterol was noted in smoke condensates and wrapping papers from butts.