Menthol versus tobacco e-liquid flavor: Impact on acute subjective effects, puff patterns, and intentions for use among Black and White menthol smokers

• Published in: Addictive behaviors 2024-08, Vol.155, p.108038, Article 108038
• Main Authors: Leavens, Eleanor L.S., Lambart, Leah M., St.Helen, Gideon, Benowitz, Neal L., Mayo, Matthew S., Farhad Mahmud, Kazi M., Arnold, Michael J., Nollen, Nicole L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Black or African American - psychology; Craving; Cross-Over Studies; Electronic cigarettes; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Female; Flavor; Flavoring Agents; Humans; Intention; Male; Menthol; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Smokers - psychology; Smoking; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - psychology; Tobacco Products; Vaping - psychology; White People - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108038

•Menthol vs. tobacco e-liquid did not result in overall differences in puff patterns.•There were no significant differences in subjective experience by e-liquid flavor.•There may be limited benefit to smokers if menthol e-cigarettes remain on the market. The proposed FDA product standard to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in combustible cigarettes has the potential to significantly reduce tobacco-related health disparities. Whether a menthol e-liquid product standard would improve or hinder public health is unknown. No known research has directly examined the impact of menthol vs. tobacco flavored e-liquid use on acute e-cigarette use patterns, subjective experience, behavioral intentions, and craving and withdrawal among menthol cigarette smokers. Black (n = 47) and White (n = 4) nicotine-deprived menthol smokers with limited e-cigarette experience completed two counterbalanced in-laboratory 30-minute ad libitum vaping sessions with menthol and tobacco nicotine salt-based e-liquid in a randomized crossover pilot trial design. Questionnaires assessed reductions in craving and withdrawal and post-session subjective experience and behavioral intentions. Puff topography was measured continuously throughout each vaping session. Measures of puff topography did not differ significantly by e-liquid flavor (all p > .40). Similarly, menthol and tobacco flavored e-cigarettes were both rated positively in terms of subjective effects and behavioral intentions (all p > .10) and about 40 % of participants reported a preference for the tobacco-flavored e-liquid. Finally, participants showed comparable reductions in craving (p = .210) and withdrawal (p = .671) from pre- and post-session regardless of e-liquid flavor. Among menthol smokers in a lab-based setting, findings suggest that menthol vs tobacco e-liquid flavor has little impact on acute changes in puff patterns, subjective experience, behavioral intentions, or craving and withdrawal.