Peraza Natalia, Han Dae Hee, Whaley Reid C, Vogel Erin A, Monterosso John R, Gonzalez Anaya Maria J, Patel Devaki J, Jafarzadeh Nikki S, Hong Kurt, Mason Tyler B, Tackett Alayna P, Leventhal Adam M
Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California.
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2024 Nov 28. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntae281.
This study applied a novel tobacco regulatory science paradigm to characterize inter-product variation in the appeal and sensory features of emerging commercial and therapeutic oral nicotine products (ONPs) among young adults that vape e-cigarettes.
Twenty-three young adults without ONP experience who use e-cigarettes completed a single-blind, single-visit remote lab study. Participants rated appeal and sensory characteristics during 5-minute standardized self-administrations of 8 ONPs (4 fruit, 4 mint) from various brands (Lucy, Rouge, Solace, Nicorette, On!, Velo). Participants were randomized between-subjects to ONP type (pouches or gum).
Gum ONPs were rated sweeter (B = 19.5, 95% CI = 4.3, 34.7), stronger in flavor (B = 25.6, 95% CI = 12.2, 39.0), and lower in tingling sensation (B = -14.0, 95% CI = -27.8, -0.2) than pouches. Fruit-flavored ONPs were sweeter (B = 12.9, 95% CI = 6.1, 19.7) and caused less burning (B = -12.0, 95% CI = -19.5, -4.5) than mint. Product type x flavor interactions found that gum vs. pouch enhanced sweetness and flavor strength more for fruit than mint, while pouch vs. gum increased burning and harshness more for mint. Nicorette White Ice was most appealing, while Rogue Fruit and Nicorette Mint were less so. Appeal correlated with most types of sensory experiences (rs = -.33-.54), except for tingling and burning.
Nicotine gums may offer a more pleasant sensory experience than pouches for young adults who use e-cigarettes, with variation across brand/flavor variants.
Results indicate that gum ONPs and fruit flavors may offer greater appeal and a more pleasant sensory experience than pouch ONPs and mint flavors for young adults who use e-cigarettes and are ONP-naïve, with heterogeneity in user experience across some brand/flavor variants. This study also introduces a method for assessing the appeal and sensory features of ONPs, which can inform regulatory efforts and strategies to reduce nicotine dependence among young adults who use e-cigarettes.
本研究应用了一种新颖的烟草监管科学范式，以描述新兴商业和治疗性口服尼古丁产品（ONP）在吸电子烟的年轻成年人中的吸引力和感官特征的产品间差异。
23名无ONP使用经验且吸电子烟的年轻成年人完成了一项单盲、单次访问的远程实验室研究。参与者在对来自不同品牌（露西、胭脂、慰藉、尼可舒、On！、维乐）的8种ONP（4种水果味、4种薄荷味）进行5分钟标准化自我给药期间，对吸引力和感官特征进行评分。参与者被随机分为不同的受试组，分别使用不同类型的ONP（袋装或口香糖）。
与袋装ONP相比，口香糖型ONP的甜度评分更高（B = 19.5，95%置信区间 = 4.3，34.7），风味更强（B = 25.6，95%置信区间 = 12.2，39.0），刺痛感更低（B = -14.0，95%置信区间 = -27.8，-0.2）。水果味ONP比薄荷味更甜（B = 12.9，95%置信区间 = 6.1，19.7），且灼烧感更小（B = -12.0，95%置信区间 = -19.5，-4.5）。产品类型×风味的交互作用表明，对于水果味产品，口香糖型与袋装相比，甜度和风味强度的增强幅度比薄荷味产品更大；而对于薄荷味产品，袋装与口香糖型相比，灼烧感和刺激性的增加幅度更大。尼可舒白冰最具吸引力，而胭脂水果味和尼可舒薄荷味则吸引力较小。吸引力与大多数类型的感官体验相关（rs = -0.33 - 0.54），刺痛感和灼烧感除外。
对于吸电子烟的年轻成年人来说，尼古丁口香糖可能比袋装产品提供更愉悦的感官体验，且不同品牌/风味变体存在差异。
结果表明，对于吸电子烟且无ONP使用经验的年轻成年人，口香糖型ONP和水果味可能比袋装ONP和薄荷味更具吸引力，且感官体验更愉悦，不同品牌/风味变体的用户体验存在异质性。本研究还介绍了一种评估ONP吸引力和感官特征的方法，可为监管努力和减少吸电子烟的年轻成年人尼古丁依赖的策略提供信息。
