A precise NRT plan is necessary when using snus as a smoking cessation medication

Abstract

Introduction: Snus, a smokeless tobacco product with low nitrosamine content, is used as one of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) treatments. How's the efficacy of snus for smoking cessation? Two factors affect the efficiency of quitting smoking. Internal factor is personal physical condition. External factor is the condition of snus. Usually, the bioavailable dose of nicotine from snus is considered as 100%. However, it's not. Actually, the bioavailable dose of nicotine differs significantly /extremely among different brands. A chemanalysis method makes the bioavailability evaluation of nicotine come true. Depending on the data of nicotine bioavailable dose, the general practitioner could make a precise plan for different quitter. Then, a precise NRT plan will lead to a higher effective in increasing quit rates. Methods: Nicotine bioavailability includes 3 parts: nicotine release amount (µg), nicotine instant release rate (µg/s) and nicotine release profile. All data of the bioavailable dose of nicotine from snus were detected on a nicotine dissolution analyzer. Also, total nicotine content, pH, un-ionised nicotine content were determined followed normal chemanalysis motheds. Results: We have generated new information on comparative nicotine release behavior from different snus. Although the measured nicotine content in 21 samples differed by about 5 times, the range of variation could be as great as 30-fold when estimate of nicotine bioavailability was calculated. Conclusions: Based on the differences in nicotine release behavior and bioavailability dose data of various brands of snus, combined with different individual needs, general practitioners can recommend smokers to use the most appropriate snus products and formulate an accurate personalized NRT plan.