title: Effects of exercise on the desire to smoke and physiological responses to temporary smoking abstinence: a crossover trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercise has been shown to attenuate cigarette cravings during temporary smoking abstinence; however, the mechanisms of action are not clearly understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the study were to compare the effects of three exercise intensities on desire to smoke and explore potential neurobiological mediators of desire to smoke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following overnight abstinence, 40 participants (25 males, 18-59 years) completed three 15 min sessions of light-, moderate-, or vigorous-intensity exercise on a cycle ergometer in a randomized crossover design. Ratings of desire to smoke were self-reported pre- and post-exercise and heart rate variability was measured throughout. Saliva and blood were analyzed for cortisol and noradrenaline in a sub-sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercise influenced desire to smoke (F [2, 91] = 7.94, p < 0.01), with reductions greatest immediately after vigorous exercise. There were also significant time x exercise intensity interaction effects for heart rate variability and plasma noradrenaline (F [8, 72] = 2.23, p = 0.03), with a bias in noradrenaline occurring between light and vigorous conditions (adjusted mean difference [SE] = 2850 ng/ml [592], p < 0.01) at 5 min post-exercise. There was no interaction of time x exercise intensity for plasma and salivary cortisol levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the use of vigorous exercise to reduce cigarette cravings, showing potential alterations in a noradrenergic marker.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Innovation, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Vaughan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gant
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sollers
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bullen
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maddison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D066249:Craving / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D012463:Saliva; D012906:Smoke; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012906:Smoke; D006854:Hydrocortisone