Nicotine absorption from electronic cigarette use: comparison between experienced consumers (vapers) and naïve users (smokers).

Konstantinos E Farsalinos,Alketa Spyrou,Vassilis Voudris,Panagiota Kourkoveli,Konstantinos Poulas,Stamatis Kyrzopoulos,Dimitris Tsiapras,Kalliroi Tsimopoulou,Christos Stefopoulos

doi:10.1038/srep11269

Konstantinos E Farsalinos, Alketa Spyrou + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep11269

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Abstract

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are nicotine delivery devices that are proposed as tobacco harm reduction products to smokers. Nicotine delivery from ECs is potentially important in their efficacy as smoking substitutes. Herein, nicotine delivery from using a new-generation EC device (variable-wattage, set at 9 W) was evaluated, comparing experienced (vapers) with naïve users (smokers). Twenty-four vapers and 23 smokers participated to the study. They were asked to obtain 10 puffs in 5 minutes and then use the EC ad lib for 60 more minutes (total duration of use: 65 minutes). An 18 mg/mL nicotine-containing liquid was used. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 5-minutes and every 15 minutes thereafter, while number of puffs and average puff duration were recorded. Although at baseline both groups had similar plasma nicotine levels, smokers consistently exhibited lower levels at all time-periods; at 5-minutes the levels were lower by 46%, while during the subsequent period they were lower by 43% (at 65-minutes) to 54% (at 20-minutes). Both groups took similar number of puffs, but smokers had average puff duration of 2.3 s compared to 3.5 s in vapers. Even in vapers, plasma nicotine levels at 5 minutes were lower than those observed after smoking 1 tobacco cigarette.

Highlights

It has been shown that there is a substantial difference in vaping topography patterns between experienced and naïve Electronic cigarettes (ECs) users[8,9]
The study clearly showed that both groups obtain nicotine from EC use, faster absorption rate and higher plasma nicotine levels were observed in experienced compared to naïve users
It seems that this is partly explained by differences in puffing patterns between the two groups; in particular, smokers took shorter puffs compared to vapers, and puff duration was independently associated with the elevation of plasma nicotine levels after 65 minutes of use

Summary

Introduction

It has been shown that there is a substantial difference in vaping topography patterns between experienced and naïve EC users[8,9]. Smokers are used to inhaling from a cigarette that is already burning, while EC use is associated with aerosol production only at the time of activation This can cause a substantial delay between activation and production of sufficient amount of vapor; experienced users compensate www.nature.com/scientificreports/. This by activating ECs for longer time, taking longer puffs[8]. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nicotine delivery potential of a new-generation EC devices in a group of smokers with no previous experience in EC use compared to a group of experienced vapers, and to examine the association between nicotine absorption and puffing topography

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