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Nicotine Absorption from Smokeless Tobacco Modified to Adjust pH
Wallace B Pickworth1, Zachary R Rosenberry1, Wyatt Gold2
1Battelle Memorial Institute, Human Exposure Assessment Laboratory (HEAL), Baltimore, MD.
Higher pH levels in smokeless tobacco (ST) significantly increase nicotine absorption in the mouth. This finding highlights pH as a key factor influencing ST
Area of Science:
- Oral Health
- Pharmacology
- Tobacco Science
Background:
- Smokeless tobacco (ST) use is linked to addiction and increased cigarette smoking initiation.
- Nicotine delivery from ST products is associated with their pH, with higher pH correlating to greater nicotine absorption.
- Previous research lacked control over variables like flavor and format, confounding pH-nicotine absorption relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and assess the impact of pH on nicotine absorption from smokeless tobacco.
- To investigate the role of pH in buccal nicotine delivery, controlling for other product characteristics.
Main Methods:
- A within-subject clinical study design was employed.
- A referent unflavored smokeless tobacco product was used.
- The product's pH was manipulated to high (8.3) and low (5.4) levels using sodium carbonate and citric acid, respectively.
Main Results:
- Higher pH smokeless tobacco products resulted in significantly greater nicotine absorption.
- No significant differences in perceived product strength or user experience were observed across pH conditions.
- Heart rate increased moderately with high pH and un-amended products, but not with the low pH product.
Conclusions:
- Product pH is a primary determinant of buccal nicotine absorption from smokeless tobacco.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the influence of flavoring and other ST components on nicotine absorption.
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