Differences in Levels of Biomarkers of Potential Harm among Users of a Heat-not-burn Tobacco Product, Cigarette Smokers, and Never-Smokers in Japan: A Post-Marketing Observational Study

• Published in: Nicotine & tobacco research 2021-07, Vol.23 (7), p.1143-1152
• Main Authors: Sakaguchi, Chikako, Nagata, Yasufumi, Kikuchi, Akira, Takeshige, Yuki, Minami, Naoki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original Investigations
• ISSN: 1469-994X; 1462-2203; 1469-994X
• DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntab014

Cigarette smoking is associated with the risk of certain diseases, but non-combustible products may lower these risks. The potential long-term health effects of the next-generation non-combustible products (heat-not-burn tobacco products (HNBP) or electronic vapor products) have not been thoroughly studied. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of biomarkers of potential harm (BoPH) of one of HNBP (a novel vapor product: NTV), under the conditions of actual use. This study was an observational, cross-sectional, three-group, multi-center study. Exclusive NTV users (NTV, n = 259), conventional cigarette smokers (CC, n = 100) and never-smokers (NS, n=100) were enrolled. Biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure (cotinine and total NNAL) and BoPH including parameters of physical pulmonary functions relevant to smoking-related diseases were examined, and subjects answered a questionnaire on cough-related symptoms (J-LCQ) and health-related quality of life (SF-36v2®). Levels of cotinine, total NNAL and BoPH (HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, sICAM-1, WBC count, 11-DHTXB2, 2,3-d-TXB2, 8-epi-PGF2α, FEV1, %FEV1 and FEF25-75) were significantly different in the NTV group as compared to levels in CC group (p