Exploring anabasine excretion factor in individuals who use tobacco cigarettes: a preliminary estimate

Population-level models predicting tobacco use would benefit from inclusion of an accurate anabasine excretion factor. This study aimed to explore the excretion of anabasine in people who use conventional cigarettes (CCs) and nicotine vaping products (NVPs).

A total of 72 participants were enrolled: 22 people who smoked CCs, 20 people who used NVPs, and 30 people who had never smoked or vaped. The quantity of CC and NVP use was documented over a 3-day period. Composite 24-hour urine samples were collected on day 3 and analyzed using LC-MS/MS to quantify nicotine, cotinine (COT), 3-hydroxycotinine (3HC), anabasine, and anatabine. The anabasine excretion factor was calculated for urine samples containing anabasine.

Nicotine exposure, as the molar sum of nicotine and its metabolites (COT and 3HC) was higher for the NVP group compared to the CC group (p = 0.0460). Anabasine concentrations were low in urine of the NVP group but the difference from the CC group did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.0646). Data from 19 individuals in the CC group were used to calculate anabasine excretion factor, giving a value of 9.02%.

The excretion factor for anabasine was calculated from 24-hour urine samples for 19 individuals who smoked cigarettes, providing a preliminary estimate that may be incorporated into predictive modeling for population-level tobacco product use. Given the small sample size of this study, future research with larger cohorts is required to provide more reliable estimates.

Individuals in this study who used NVPs had higher exposure to nicotine than those who smoked CCs. The excretion factor for anabasine was calculated, which may support the estimation of tobacco use at the population level via anabasine load in wastewater samples.