title: Reduced nicotine content cigarettes: effects on toxicant exposure, dependence and cessation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of reduced nicotine cigarettes on smoking behavior, toxicant exposure, dependence and abstinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, parallel arm, semi-blinded study. Setting University of Minnesota Tobacco Use Research Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six weeks of: (i) 0.05 mg nicotine yield cigarettes; (ii) 0.3 mg nicotine yield cigarettes; or (iii) 4 mg nicotine lozenge; 6 weeks of follow-up. Measurements Compensatory smoking behavior, biomarkers of exposure, tobacco dependence, tobacco withdrawal and abstinence rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unlike the 0.3 mg cigarettes, 0.05 mg cigarettes were not associated with compensatory smoking behaviors. Furthermore, the 0.05 mg cigarettes and nicotine lozenge were associated with reduced carcinogen exposure, nicotine dependence and product withdrawal scores. The 0.05 mg cigarette was associated with greater relief of withdrawal from usual brand cigarettes than the nicotine lozenge. The 0.05 mg cigarette led to a significantly higher rate of cessation than the 0.3 mg cigarette and a similar rate as nicotine lozenge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 0.05 mg nicotine yield cigarettes may be a tobacco product that can facilitate cessation; however, future research is clearly needed to support these preliminary findings.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. hatsu001@umn.edu
authors.forename: Dorothy K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hatsukami
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotlyar
authors.forename: Louise A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hertsgaard
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Carmella
authors.forename: Joni A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Sharon S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Sharon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stepanov
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hecht
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine