Summary
Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a randomized pilot trial that examines how regular cigarette smokers respond pharmacologically and behaviorally to different e-liquid flavors. The study aims to assess plasma nicotine levels after vaping different e-liquid flavors, puffing topography when vaping different e-liquid flavors, and subjective effects and satisfaction of different e-liquid flavors. The key points and main message of the text are summarized below.
Key Points:
* The study recruited 18 daily, regular adult cigarette smokers who were randomized to the order of five flavors.
* Participants underwent a controlled puffing session using the assigned flavor for 10 minutes, puffing every 30 seconds.
* Plasma nicotine concentration was determined at the Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, using GC–MS/MS.
* Video was taken of the entire visit with the video positioned so the participant was against a dark background and aerosol could be seen when participants exhaled from the device.
* Video collected during the controlled puffing session was analyzed for puff duration, defined as the time the e-cigarette was placed in the mouth and the mouth was closed to the time when the e-cigarette was removed.
* Withdrawal symptoms, craving to smoke a combustible cigarette, and subjective responses to the effects of nicotine were measured using validated scales.
* a 12-item adapted product evaluation scale was used to assess satisfaction with and helpfulness of each flavor.
Main Message:
The study found that vaping different flavors resulted in different levels of plasma nicotine, with cherry flavor producing the highest plasma nicotine concentration, which was not significantly different than nicotine delivery from a combustible cigarette. The study also found that participants tended to puff less frequently on vanilla compared to tobacco flavor and that puff duration was significantly longer with all flavors compared to a combustible cigarette. The flavor menthol was rated as more enjoyable than vanilla and tobacco flavored e-liquids. The study suggests that flavors tested in this study yielded different patterns of nicotine delivery and led to differences in reduction in smoking urges. These findings have implications for regulatory policies related to e-cigarette flavors.
Citation
Voos N, Smith D, Kaiser L, et al. Effect of e-cigarette flavors on nicotine delivery and puffing topography: results from a randomized clinical trial of daily smokers. Psychopharmacology. 2020;237(2):491-502. doi:10.1007/s00213-019-05386-x
