The relationship between nicotine metabolism and nicotine and carcinogen exposure among American Indian commercial cigarette smokers and electronic nicotine delivery system users.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nIn American Indian (AI) tobacco users from the southern plains region of the US, we examined the relationship between nicotine and carcinogen exposure and nicotine metabolism.\n\n\nMETHODS\nSmokers (n\u202f=\u202f27), electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) users (n\u202f=\u202f21), and dual users (n\u202f=\u202f25) of AI descent were recruited from a southern plains state. Urinary biomarkers of nicotine metabolism (nicotine metabolite ratio [NMR]), nicotine dose (total nicotine equivalents [TNE]), and a tobacco-specific lung carcinogen (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and its glucuronides [total NNAL] were measured.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe geometric mean of NMR was 3.35 (95% Confidence Interval(CI): 2.42, 4.65), 4.67 (95% CI: 3.39, 6.43), and 3.26 (95% CI: 2.44, 4.37) among smokers, ENDS users, and dual users. Each of the three user groups had relatively low levels of TNE, indicative of light tobacco use. Among smokers, there were inverse relationships between NMR and TNE (r\u202f=\u202f-0.45) and between NMR and NNAL (r\u202f=\u202f-0.50). Among dual users, NMR and TNE, and NMR and NNAL were not associated. Among ENDS users, NMR and TNE were not associated.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nAI tobacco users with higher NMR did not have higher TNE or NNAL exposure than those with lower NMR. This supports prior work among light tobacco users who do not alter their tobacco consumption to account for nicotine metabolism.\n\n\nIMPACT\nThe high prevalences of smoking and ENDS among AI in the southern plains may not be related to nicotine metabolism. Environmental and social cues may play a more important role in light tobacco users and this may be particularly true among AI light tobacco users who have strong cultural ties.