Summary
Introduction:
This text is a pooled analysis of studies on nicotine blood uptake from electronic cigarettes, as measured by Cmax and Tmax, to further understand the specific associations between these factors and nicotine blood pharmacokinetics. The findings will be of interest from a scientific standpoint and will also be valuable to regulatory authorities considering adopting or revising existing nicotine limits in e-liquids.
Key Points:
* The study identified 27 relevant papers and analyzed the data to determine the key variables such as device type, user experience, and vaping regime.
* The analysis revealed a wide distribution of Cmax b (base-line adjusted Cmax) in electronic cigarettes, ranging from 1 ng/mL to approximately 44 ng/mL, with the majority of reported values being below 20 ng/mL.
* The study found that open systems achieved higher Cmax b values compared to closed system devices when e-liquid nicotine concentration increased.
* The median Cmax b for open systems was 9.7 ng/mL and for closed system electronic cigarettes was 6.5 ng/mL.
* The study also found that puffing behavior and user experience can influence nicotine uptake, with experienced electronic cigarette users demonstrating a wider Cmax b distribution and significantly higher median Cmax b compared to inexperienced users.
* The analysis of Tmax (time to maximum blood concentration) revealed that electronic cigarettes demonstrated highly distributed Tmax values with a median of 10 min, compared to conventional cigarettes which showed low variability with the majority of Tmax values below 10 min and a median of 7 min.
* The relationship between Cmax b and Tmax showed important differences between conventional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, with electronic cigarettes demonstrating lower variability with higher Cmax b values and predominately low Tmax values compared to closed systems.
Main Message:
The study highlights the complex factors that influence nicotine uptake in electronic cigarettes, including device type, user experience, and puffing behavior. The findings suggest that any regulation seeking to restrict the amount of nicotine in electronic cigarette liquids should take all these factors into account. The study also underscores the importance of continued research in this area to inform evidence-based regulatory decisions.
Citation
Jacobson K, Martinez J, Larroque S, Jones IW, Paschke T. Nicotine pharmacokinetics of electronic cigarettes: a pooled data analysis from the literature. Toxicology reports. 2021;8:84-95. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.12.016
