Cigarette smoking may promote the formation of diverticuli in the large intestines (colon).
This study explored the hypothesis that cigarette smoking may raise an individual's propensity to acquire colonic diverticulosis. Researchers conducted a meticulous analysis on data culled from 3 cohort studies.
Researchers noticed that colonic diverticuli occurred at a higher rate among current smokers than in non-smokers. The researchers concluded that "a significantly increased risk of colonic diverticulosis among current smokers is demonstrated in this study."