Threshold dose for behavioral discrimination of cigarette nicotine content in menthol vs. non-menthol smokers

Perkins, Kenneth A.; Kunkle, Nicole; Karelitz, Joshua L.

doi:10.1007/s00213-017-4563-3

Cited by 26 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…For example, Rosbrook and Green (2016) observed that similar high concentrations of menthol reduced irritation from a 24 mg concentration of nicotine. Interestingly, recent evidence from Perkins and colleagues (Perkins et al, 2017) also observed that menthol cigarette smokers had discrimination thresholds at higher nicotine concentrations, relative to non-menthol smokers, suggesting that menthol smokers may need higher nicotine concentrations for experience reward.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying the interactive effects of menthol and nicotine among youth: An examination using e-cigarettes

Krishnan‐Sarin

Green

Kong

et al. 2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Background Tobacco products containing menthol are widely used by youth. We used ecigarettes to conduct an experimental evaluation of the independent and interactive effects of menthol and nicotine among youth. Procedures Pilot chemosensory experiments with fourteen e-cigarette users identified low (barely perceptible, 0.5%) and high (similar to commercial e-liquid, 3.5%) menthol concentrations. Sixty e-cigarette users were randomized to a nicotine concentration (0 mg/ml, 6 mg/ml, 12 mg/ml) and participated in 3 laboratory sessions. During each session, they received their assigned nicotine concentration, along with one of three menthol concentrations in random counterbalanced order across sessions (0, 0.5%, 3.5%), and participated in three fixed-dose, and an ad-lib, puffing period. Urinary menthol glucuronide and salivary nicotine levels validated menthol and nicotine exposure. We examined changes in e-cigarette liking/wanting and taste, coolness, stimulant effects, nicotine withdrawal and ad-lib use. Results Overall, the high concentration of menthol (3.5%) significantly increased e-cigarette liking/wanting relative to no menthol (p<0.001); there was marginal evidence of nicotine* menthol interactions (p=0.06), with an increase in liking/wanting when 3.5% menthol was combined with 12 mg/ml nicotine, but not 6 mg/ml nicotine. Importantly, both 0.5% and 3.5% menthol concentrations significantly improved taste and increased coolness. We did not observe nicotine or menthol-related changes in stimulant effects, nicotine withdrawal symptoms or ad-lib use. Conclusions Menthol, even at very low doses, alters the appeal of e-cigarettes among youth. Further, menthol enhances positive rewarding effects of high nicotine-containing e-cigarettes among youth.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying the interactive effects of menthol and nicotine among youth: An examination using e-cigarettes

Krishnan‐Sarin

Green

Kong

et al. 2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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“…(All compared here were those preferring non-menthol due to very few non-dependent menthol smokers available for testing; other research directly compares nicotine discrimination based on menthol preference in dependent smokers; Perkins et al, under review). Presence or absence of nicotine dependence was confirmed by DSM-V criteria (APA, 2013), which dependent smokers currently met and non-dependent smokers could never have met (i.e., no history of dependence).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The next lowest content cigarette below their threshold cigarette, which by definition they failed to discriminate, was labeled their “subthreshold” dose. These procedures were developed and evaluated (Perkins et al, 2016a) prior to studies of nicotine discrimination thresholds in dependent smokers via Spectrum cigarettes (Perkins et al, 2016b; under review 2017).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using Spectrum cigarettes, we adapted methods from our prior studies on nicotine discrimination with nasal spray (reviewed in Perkins, 2011) to develop procedures testing nicotine discrimination via cigarette smoking (Perkins et al, 2016a). Subsequently, we evaluated procedures for determining the threshold “dose” for discriminating nicotine in dependent smokers (Perkins et al, 2016b), followed by comparison of dependent smokers who preferred menthol vs. non-menthol cigarette brands (Perkins et al, under review). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Preliminary test of cigarette nicotine discrimination threshold in non-dependent versus dependent smokers

Perkins

Kunkle

Karelitz

2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Background Despite its potential for understanding tobacco dependence, behavioral discrimination of nicotine via smoking has not been formally examined as a function of nicotine dependence level. Methods Spectrum research cigarettes were used to compare non-dependent with dependent smokers on the lowest content of nicotine they could discriminate (i.e., “threshold”). Dependent (n=21; 16 M, 5 F) or non-dependent (n=7; 4 M, 3 F) smokers were tested on ability to discriminate between cigarettes with nicotine contents of 17, 11, 5, 2, and 1 mg/g, one per session, from an “ultra-low” cigarette with 0.4 mg/g (all had 9–10 mg “tar”). All abstained from smoking overnight prior to sessions, and number of sessions was determined by the lowest nicotine content they could reliably discriminate from the ultra-low on >80% of trials (i.e., ≥5 of 6). Subjective perceptions and cigarette choice behavior were also assessed and related to discrimination behavior. Results Discrimination thresholds (and most perceptions) did not differ between dependent and non-dependent smokers, with median thresholds of 11 mg/g for both subgroups. Yet, “liking” and puff choice for threshold cigarettes were greater in dependent but not non-dependent smokers, while cigarettes with nicotine contents below threshold did not support “liking” or choice in both groups. Conclusions In sum, this preliminary study suggests threshold for discriminating nicotine via smoking may not vary by dependence level, and further study is needed to confirm that cigarettes unable to be discriminated are also not reinforcing.

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“…Two recent publications developed from a lab-based population of smokers the authors describe as "DSM-V dependent" reported that "DSM-V dependent" menthol smokers have higher FTND scores compared to "DSM-V dependent" nonmenthol smokers (5.4 versus 4.6, p < 0.05). 53,58 In one of their unadjusted analyses, Fagan et al reported higher mean scores on the WISDM-Brief among menthol smokers (45.8 vs 40.2, p ¼ 0.01). However, no differences were reported for the unadjusted NDSS and FTND scores or any of the three measures in the adjusted results, as noted previously.…”

Section: Validated and Widely Accepted Dependence Measuresmentioning

confidence: 96%

Measures of dependence in menthol and nonmenthol smokers - A comprehensive narrative review

Frost-Pineda

Heck

Curtin

2020

Journal of Addictive Diseases

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Introduction. More than a decade ago, concerns were raised that menthol in cigarettes might enhance addiction to smoking. This article provides a comprehensive review of published studies examining cigarette dependence among menthol and nonmenthol smokers. The purpose of the review is to evaluate the scientific evidence to determine if menthol increases cigarette dependence. Materials and Methods. The published literature was searched in 2019 for studies that provide evidence on cigarette dependence among menthol compared to nonmenthol smokers. Included in this review are published studies that compare menthol and nonmenthol smokers based on widely accepted and validated measures of dependence, or other established predictors of dependence (age of smoking initiation [first cigarette]/age of progression [regular/daily smoking]) and indicators of dependence (smoking frequency, cigarettes smoked per day, time to first cigarette after waking, night waking to smoke, smoking duration). Results and Conclusion. Based on a review of the available studies, including those with adjusted results and large representative samples, reliable and consistent empirical evidence supports a conclusion that menthol smokers are not more dependent than nonmenthol smokers and thus menthol in cigarettes does not increase dependence.

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Threshold dose for behavioral discrimination of cigarette nicotine content in menthol vs. non-menthol smokers

Cited by 26 publications

References 58 publications

Studying the interactive effects of menthol and nicotine among youth: An examination using e-cigarettes

Studying the interactive effects of menthol and nicotine among youth: An examination using e-cigarettes

Preliminary test of cigarette nicotine discrimination threshold in non-dependent versus dependent smokers

Measures of dependence in menthol and nonmenthol smokers - A comprehensive narrative review

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