Reduced nicotine content cigarettes: effects on toxicant exposure, dependence and cessation.
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.
Hatsukami
Dorothy K
DK
University of Minnesota Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. hatsu001@umn.edu
Kotlyar
Michael
M
Hertsgaard
Louise A
LA
Zhang
Yan
Y
Carmella
Steven G
SG
Jensen
Joni A
JA
Allen
Sharon S
SS
Shields
Peter G
PG
Murphy
Sharon E
SE
Stepanov
Irina
I
Hecht
Stephen S
SS
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine