Abstract

Research Article

Effects of the Snuff with Sodium Bicarbonate (Toumbak) on the Blood Pressure among Sudanese Users

Amged Hussien Abdelrahman*, Faisal Ghazi Dafallah Bakhit and Hassan Ahmed Ali

Published: 29 July, 2025 | Volume 9 - Issue 1 | Pages: 007-010

Background: Toumbak, a form of smokeless tobacco made from Nicotiana rustica and sodium bicarbonate, is widely used in Sudan and poses potential health risks, particularly concerning cardiovascular function. Despite its high prevalence, especially among adult males, limited data exist regarding its impact on blood pressure.
Objective: To assess and compare blood pressure parameters among Sudanese Toumbak users and non-users, and to investigate the association between Toumbak use, age, and gender with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP).
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from 2022 to 2025 among 1000 Sudanese adults (500 Toumbak users and 500 matched non-users) aged 18–60 years in Khartoum State. Blood pressure measurements were recorded using a digital sphygmomanometer following WHO guidelines. Independent t-tests and ANOVA were used to compare SBP, DBP, and PP between groups. A p - value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Toumbak users exhibited significantly elevated SBP (141.7 ± 21.9 mmHg), DBP (89.3 ± 6.0 mmHg), and PP (52.4 ± 19.3 mmHg) compared to non-users (SBP: 121.2 ± 3.2 mmHg, DBP: 80.5 ± 3.8 mmHg, PP: 40.7 ± 3.9 mmHg), with p < 0.001 for all parameters. Males demonstrated significantly higher SBP (145.6 ± 24.0 mmHg) and PP (56.7 ± 22.1 mmHg) than females (SBP: 137.8 ± 18.6 mmHg, PP: 48.2 ± 14.5 mmHg). While no statistically significant differences were observed in BP across age groups, adolescents and middle-aged users had the highest SBP.
Conclusion: Toumbak use is significantly associated with elevated blood pressure and increased cardiovascular risk, particularly among male users. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions and awareness campaigns addressing the health consequences of smokeless tobacco in Sudan.

Read Full Article HTML DOI: 10.29328/journal.jhcr.1001034 Cite this Article Read Full Article PDF

Keywords:

Toumbak; Smokeless tobacco; Blood pressure; Hypertension; Sudan; Sodium bicarbonate; Cardiovascular risk

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