The effects of oral smokeless tobacco administration on endurance performance

Abstract

BackgroundSmokeless tobacco is widely used by athletes to enhance performance. Nicotine is a central nervous system stimulant and acts on cardiocirculatory and metabolic systems, involving tissue blood flow and circulatory vasoreactivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the oral smokeless tobacco (Swedish snus (SS)) on the perception of fatigue and time to exhaustion (TTE) during moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.MethodsFourteen healthy non-tobacco male users were recruited for a double-blind, controlled crossover design (SS vs. snus placebo (SP)). Subjects were tested for 3 sessions: experimental session 1 (Exp1) consisted of an incremental test to determine the maximal aerobic power output (Wmax), whereas Exp2 and Exp3 consisted of exercising at 65%Wmax until exhaustion in SS or SP conditions. During Exp2 and Exp3, muscle and cerebral oxygenation was assessed by means of near-infrared spectroscopy, and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded.ResultsComparing SS with SP tests, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the values of cerebral (~3%) and muscular tissues oxygenation (~4%) in the first 30 min of exercise. The RPE values were not significantly different between the 2 conditions (SS vs. SP). No significant difference was found in TTE (SS: 54.25 ± 21.84 min; SP: 50.01 ± 17.03 min).ConclusionThis study showed that muscular and cerebral oxygenation increased significantly with snus administration during an endurance exercise until exhaustion, but this did not affect fatigue perception and TTE. The results showed that snus could not be considered an ergogenic substance in non-tobacco users.

Nicotine: Sporting Friend or Foe? A Review of Athlete Use, Performance Consequences and Other Considerations

“…2.5 g smokeless tobacco compared to placebo chew Not reported but maximal O 2 uptake and lactate unchanged Escher et al [ 21 ] 20 habitual smokeless tobacco users, and 20 non-users as controls Maximum voluntary force and rate of force development using knee extension at 250° s −1 from 90° to 0° of flexion 2 conditions for habitual users: (1) abstinent ≥12 h and remained abstinent for testing, (2) one dip 2 h prior to and then again on arrival at the laboratory whilst testing Maximal force (12%) and rate of force development (9–10%) reduced when using smokeless tobacco compared to abstinent Morente-Sánchez et al [ 45 ] 18 non-users/non-smokers Maximum handgrip strength, maximum countermovement jump height, agility shuttle run, Yo-yo recovery intermittent shuttle test (level 1) 40 min smokeless tobacco use whilst resting supine, then handgrip strength, countermovement jump and agility shuttle run were performed before tobacco discarded after 70 min and the Yo-yo test was performed. 1.0 g smokeless tobacco compared to placebo chew All performance tests were unaffected by smokeless tobacco Zandonai et al [ 62 ] 14 non-users/non-smokers Cycle to volitional exhaustion at 65% maximal aerobic power Smokeless tobacco use from start of exercise and throughout exhaustion trial. 1.0 g smokeless tobacco compared to placebo chew Endurance time unaffected with smokeless tobacco …”

“…Of the five studies that assessed sub- or maximal endurance, only one demonstrated an ergogenic effect with nicotine [ 46 ], whilst the other four demonstrated no change [ 22 , 62 ] or did not explicitly report time or work completed [ 18 , 58 ]. Mündel and Jones [ 46 ] had nicotine-naïve participants cycle to exhaustion at ~75% of their aerobic maximum following ~10 h of transdermal nicotine treatment or placebo, and reported a significant improvement in endurance with nicotine.…”

“…Mündel and Jones [ 46 ] had nicotine-naïve participants cycle to exhaustion at ~75% of their aerobic maximum following ~10 h of transdermal nicotine treatment or placebo, and reported a significant improvement in endurance with nicotine. Zandonai et al [ 62 ] also used nicotine-naïve participants cycling to exhaustion at ~65% of their aerobic power as ST or a placebo was placed into the mouth at the beginning of exercise and was kept there until exhaustion, and reported no effect on endurance with ST. Fogt et al [ 22 ] performed an incremental maximal cycle test on non-smokers following vaporised nicotine or placebo delivery and reported no effect on peak power achieved. Van Duser and Raven [ 58 ] and Druyan et al [ 18 ] performed graded maximal treadmill tests on regular tobacco users who were ~12 h abstinent, although Druyan et al [ 18 ] also included a non-user group.…”

“…Regular nicotine users who abstain develop withdrawal symptoms (craving, irritability, depression, restlessness, hunger, difficulty concentrating and consequent performance decline) that occur as early as 30 min following deprivation [ 26 ] and can last 24 h [ 48 ]. Only five of the performance studies report data on side effects [ 22 , 45 – 47 , 62 ]; all used nicotine-naïve participants who reported either minor (occasional coughing/sneezing, scratchy/tickly throat) or major (tachycardia, nausea, dizziness, etc.) adverse events that even led to participants suspending trials.…”

A Preliminary Investigation on Smokeless Tobacco Use and Its Cognitive Effects Among Athletes

“…A recent study showed the use of snus among alpine skiers in Italy. Results showed that 74% of the athletes who practice winter sports have tried snus at least once and 50% of them continue to use it ( Zandonai et al, 2016 ). It is unclear whether the use by athletes is due to addictive properties of nicotine or if there are real benefits to physical and cognitive performance including decision-making process.…”