Quit Smoking, Raise ‘Good’ Cholesterol Nov. 16, 2010 (Chicago) -- Smokers who kick the habit may improve their levels of "good" HDL cholesterol within one year, a study of nearly 1,000 people suggests.

HDL levels shot up despite the weight gain commonly associated with smoking cessation, says Adam D. Gepner, MD, of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

People who quit smoking gained about 10 pounds over a one-year period, while those who continued to light up put on about 1 1/2 pounds, the study showed.

Still, HDL cholesterol levels increased an average of 2.4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood in the group that quit smoking, while staying relatively stable in people who continued to smoke.

Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging, the researchers found that the actual number of HDL particles also increased in people who quit, compared with those who continued smoking.

Smoking cessation did not affect levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol.

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