Reduction in nicotine intake and oral mucosal changes among users of Swedish oral moist snuff after switching to a low-nicotine product.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess nicotine regulation among users of portion-bag Swedish oral moist snuff (snus) when switching from an ordinary snus product (Brand A) to a low-nicotine product having only half the concentration of nicotine (Brand B). Two studies were performed to compare the short-term effects on consumption and nicotine intake of switching to low-nicotine snus with those of long-term effects. In Study 1, consumption data, soft tissue changes and nicotine intake were measured in a group of 24 habitual users of Swedish portion-bag snus, both during use of their ordinary snus (Brand A) for 2 weeks and during consumption of the low-nicotine product (Brand B) for 10 weeks. In study 2, the same data were measured during 2 weeks in a reference group of 18 snus users who had been habitual users of the low-nicotine snus (Brand B) for at least one year. Although there was no increase in number of hours of daily consumption, the amount of snus consumed increased on average by 2 grams a day (+15%) when switching from Brand A to the low-nicotine Brand B (Study 1). The Brand B reference group (Study 2) consumed about 3 grams less snus a day during the same number of hours as the subjects in Study 1 who had switched to Brand B. These results indicate that snus users compensate to a small extent for the lower nicotine delivery by increasing their consumption on short-term switching but the same does not apply to long-term users.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)