Premium
Nicotine metabolism and addiction among adolescent smokers
Author(s) -
Rubinstein Mark L.,
Shiffman Saul,
Moscicki AnnaBarbara,
Rait Michelle A.,
Sen Saunak,
Benowitz Neal L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04026.x
Subject(s) - cotinine , nicotine , addiction , medicine , metabolite , smoking cessation , nicotine dependence , confidence interval , young adult , multivariate analysis , nicotine addiction , physiology , psychiatry , pathology
Aims The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the nicotine metabolic rate and smoking behavior, including addiction, in adolescent smokers. Design Baseline data from a prospective study of adolescent smoking behaviors and nicotine metabolism. Setting The setting was an out‐patient university hospital in S an F rancisco. Participants Adolescent smokers ( n = 164) aged 13–17 years old. Measurements Participants completed self‐report measures of smoking behavior and nicotine dependence (modified F agerström T olerance Q uestionnaire: mFTQ ). The nicotine metabolite ratio ( NMR ), a phenotypic marker of the rate of nicotine metabolism, was calculated using the ratio of concentrations of deuterium‐labeled 3′‐hydroxycotinine to cotinine‐d 4 . Findings Participants reported smoking a mean of 2.86 cigarettes per day ( CPD ) [median = 1.78, standard deviation ( SD ) = 3.35] for 1.37 years (median = 1.0, SD = 1.36). Results from multivariate analyses accounting for age, race/ethnicity, gender and duration of smoking indicated that slower metabolizers smoked more CPD than faster metabolizers (the NMR was inversely related to CPD ; P = 0.02). Slower metabolizers also showed greater dependence on the mFTQ ( NMR was negatively associated with the mFTQ ; P = 0.02). Conclusions In adolescence, slower clearance of nicotine may be associated with greater levels of addiction, perhaps mediated by a greater number of cigarettes smoked.