Influence of menstrual cycle on cytochrome P450 2A6 activity and cardiovascular effects of nicotine*

Abstract

CYP2A6 activity is not affected by menstrual cycle phase, and it is unlikely that menstrual cycle-related smoking habits of women are determined by changes in nicotine pharmacokinetics. The effects of nicotine on plasma ACTH and catecholamine levels and hemodynamic parameters are not altered by menstrual cycle phase in healthy, nonsmoking women.

Menstrual Phase and Depressive Symptoms Differences in Physiological Response to Nicotine Following Acute Smoking Abstinence

“…However, neither of these studies considered depressive symptoms as a factor. Also, one study assessed the physiological response to nicotine after overnight abstinence in a sample of heavily dependent female smokers (Marks et al, 1999), whereas the other study assessed the physiological response to nicotine in a sample of non-smoking females (Hukkanen et al, 2005). This study expands the literature by assessing physiological response to nicotine after a longer period of abstinence (4 days) in a larger sample of less dependent female smokers with and without depressive symptoms.…”

“…Two previous studies observed no significant menstrual phase differences in physiological response to nicotine (Hukkanen et al, 2005;Marks, Pomerleau, & Pomerleau, 1999) . However, neither of these studies considered depressive symptoms as a factor.…”

“…This is illustrated by studies showing that exogenous administration of hormones (i.e., oral contraceptives) and clinical situations in which the concentrations of hormones are altered (i.e., pregnancy and menopause) impact nicotine metabolism (Benowitz, LessovSchlaggar, Swan, & Jacob, 2006;Berlin, Gasior, & Moolchan, 2007;Dempsey, Jacob, & Benowitz, 2000;Selby, Hackman, Kapur, Klein, & Koren, 2001). Conversely, in a small clinical study, nicotine metabolism did not differ by menstrual phase in non-smoking women (n = 11) who received an infusion of nicotine and cotinine (Hukkanen, Gourlay, Kenkare, & Benowitz, 2005). These conflicting data indicate additional research is needed to more fully characterize the role of sex hormones on nicotine pharmacokinetics.…”

Human CYP2A6 Is Induced by Estrogen via Estrogen Receptor

“…1). Hukkanen et al (2005), however, reported that the menstrual cycle phase did not affect the nicotine and cotinine clearances. Because these clearances are determined by CYP2A6-dependent metabolism in liver, a small change of the estrogen level during the menstrual cycle might not affect the CYP2A6 expression in liver.…”

Metabolism and Disposition Kinetics of Nicotine

“…Thus, the day/ night variation and meal effects of nicotine clearance result in circadian variations in plasma concentrations during constant dosing of nicotine (Gries et al, 1996). Menstrual cycle (follicular phase versus luteal phase) has no effect on nicotine and cotinine pharmacokinetics in healthy nonsmoking women (Hukkanen et al, 2005).…”