Nicotine absorption during electronic cigarette use among regular users

Abstract

Background The capability of electronic cigarette devices (e-cigs) to deliver nicotine is key to their potential to replace combustible cigarettes. We compared nicotine delivery and subjective effects associated with the use of two classes of e-cigarettes and cigarettes. Methods 14 e-cigarette users were instructed to vape their own e-cigarette device every 20 seconds for 10 minutes while blood was drawn at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,12, and 15 minutes after initiating vaping. Users rated withdrawal symptoms and side effects before and after vaping. E-cigarette devices were classified as first-generation (same size as cigarette, no activation button) or advanced (larger than cigarette with an activation button). Separately, 10 cigarette smokers completed a similar protocol. Fisher’s Exact Test and two-sided t-tests were used as appropriate to determine differences in outcomes between first-generation e-cigarette users, advanced e-cigarette users, and smokers. Results Compared to first-generation devices, advanced devices were associated with greater serum nicotine C max (ng/ml) (11.5 v. 2.8, p = 0.0231) and greater nicotine boost (ng/ml) (10.8 v. 1.8, p = 0.0177). Overall, e-cigarettes users experienced a significant reduction in withdrawal and craving, although there were no significant differences between users of first-generation and advanced devices. Comparing e-cigarettes overall to cigarettes, cigarettes were associated with greater C max (25.9 v. 9.0, p = 0.0043) and greater nicotine boost (21.0 v. 8.2, p = 0.0128). Conclusions Advanced e-cigarettes delivered significantly more nicotine than first-generation devices but less than combustible cigarettes. Overall, e-cigarette use was associated with a reduction in withdrawal and craving with no reported side effects. The wide variation in nicotine absorption from different e-cigarette devices should be considered in studies of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.

Patterns of tobacco and e-cigarette use status in India: a cross-sectional survey of 3000 vapers in eight Indian cities

“…A large proportion of vapers in this study initiated e-cigarette use with first generation devices, and many were still using them at the time of the survey. These devices are known to deliver a limited amount of nicotine compared to more advanced products [33][34][35]. This may be due to India being a small and developing market for these products, with lack of information to guide choice of devices compared to other countries where e-cigarettes have been available more widely and for a longer time.…”

Nicotine Absorption Profile Among Regular Users of a Pod-Based Electronic Nicotine Delivery System

“…This study is the first, to our knowledge, to show that JUUL delivers a higher and faster boost in blood nicotine than has been reported for most other ENDS devices. 4,5,6 Limitations are the small sample size and that ENDS users may not typically take 30 puffs in 10 minutes. However, its use produced a mean (SD) nicotine boost of 12.9 (9.8) ng/mL after only 12 puffs in 4 minutes, a rate suggestive of pulmonary absorption.…”

The Economics of Nicotine Consumption

“…Peak plasma nicotine is lower for cigars because cigar smokers seldom inhale (Fant and Henningfield 1998;Hoffmann and Hoffmann 1998). By contrast, Yingst et al (2019) estimate that, when people vape using e-cigarettes, they get an average of 1.33 mg of nicotine and 93.8% of the inhaled dose. They concluded that e-cigarettes can deliver levels of nicotine comparable to or higher than typical tobacco cigarettes, with similar systemic retention.…”