NEWS
NIC SALTS
MORE EFFECTIVE THAN
PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT
N
A new study claims to show that vaping salt-based nicotine
could be more beneficial to smokers wanting to quit
with the aid of an e-cigarette.
icotine salts have been credited with
giving a similar sensation to smoking a
cigarette, and their popularity among new
vapers has driven a whole new element
to the vape market.
Just how effective salt-based nicotine is in smoking
cessation has most recently been backed up by a new
peer-reviewed clinical study.
The main findings from the research, published in the
Internal and Emergency Medical Journal, suggest that
vaping nicotine salts closely replicates the delivery of
nicotine provided by smoking cigarettes.
The research also found that almost one third of British
smokers (29 percent) are looking to switch to vaping in
2019.
Researchers also monitored for any adverse effects of
vaping nic salts but found none to exist.
Dr Grant O’Connell, Head of Scientific Affairs at Imperial
Brands and one of the authors on the study said: “Our
clinical findings suggest that e-vapour devices with
a higher concentration of nicotine in nicotine salt form
may be more effective – and more appealing – to adult
smokers switching from cigarettes to vaping.”
While there is a growing consensus that vaping is
substantially less harmful than smoking, especially in
countries such as the UK which backs vaping as a viable
By Staff Reporter
smoking cessation aid, this study shows that a minority
of smokers have fully made the transition to vaping. In
the UK, there are an estimated 7.4 million adults who
continue to smoke cigarettes.
Dr O’Connell added the mainstream media’s approach
to vaping in the UK may not be helping the situation:
“While conflicting information in both the scientific press
and mainstream media may be deterring many smokers
from even trying vaping, both this study and real-world
evidence suggests that current e-vapour devices may
not be providing smokers with the full satisfaction they
derive – and in many cases require – from cigarettes.”
“In our study, the myblu Intense 40 mg/mL nicotine
salt product had the closest nicotine uptake profile to
cigarettes, while also providing the greatest relief in
subjects’ desire to smoke. However, under current EU
regulations this product is not permitted. This potentially
limits the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking substitute,
especially in the case of heavier smokers – a view shared
by the UK Government’s House of Commons Science
and Technology committee.”
This latest research follows a growing consensus that
vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking and
comes on the heels of Public Health England’s recent
video campaign showing the effects of vaping versus
smoking on the lungs.
“Our clinical findings suggest that e-vapour devices with a
higher concentration of nicotine in nicotine salt form may be
more effective – and more appealing – to adult smokers”
22 | VM22