Research article summary (published 29 Apr 1999):

Minor tobacco alkaloids as biomarkers for tobacco use: comparison of users of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, and pipes.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study (1) determined levels of various tobacco alkaloids in commercial tobacco products. (2) determined urinary concentrations, urinary excretion, and half-lives of the alkaloids in humans; and (3) examined the possibility that urine concentrations of nicotine-related alkaloids can be used as biomarkers of tobacco use. METHODS: Nicotine intake from various tobacco products was determined through pharmacokinetic techniques. Correlations of nicotine intake with urinary excretion and concentrations of anabasine, anatabine, nornicotine, nicotine, and cotinine were examined. By using urinary excretion data, elimination half-lives of the alkaloids were calculated. RESULTS: Alkaloid levels in commercial tobacco products, in milligrams per gram, were as follows: nicotine, 6.5 to 17.5; nornicotine, 0.14 to 0.66; anabasine, 0.008 to 0.030; and anatabine, 0.065 to 0.27. Measurable concentrations of all alkaloids were excreted in the urine of most subjects smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes and using smokeless tobacco. Correlations between nicotine intake and alkaloid concentrations were good to excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Anabasine and anatabine, which are present in tobacco but not in nicotine medications, can be used to assess tobacco use in persons undergoing nicotine replacement therapy.

Author information

Author/s: Jacob, P (P); Yu, L (L); Shulgin, A T (AT); Benowitz, N L (NL);

Affiliation: Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, CA, USA.

Grants: DA01696 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; DA02277 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; RR-00083 (Agency:NCRR NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: American journal of public health (Am J Public Health), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1999-May; vol 89 (issue 5) : pp 731-6

Dates: Created 1999/05/17; Completed 1999/05/17; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 10224986, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Alkaloids - analysis; urine Anabasine - analysis; urine Biological Markers - urine Cotinine - analysis; urine Humans Male Middle Aged Nicotine - analogs & derivatives; analysis; therapeutic use; urine

Nicotinic Agonists - analysis; therapeutic use; urine Plants, Toxic Pyridines Reproducibility of Results Smoking - drug therapy; urine Substance Abuse Detection - methods Time Factors Tobacco - chemistry; classification Tobacco Use Disorder - drug therapy; urine

Associated Chemicals: Alkaloids (0) ; Biological Markers (0) ; Nicotinic Agonists (0) ; Pyridines (0) ; Cotinine (486-56-6) ; Anabasine (494-52-0) ; Nicotine (54-11-5) ; nornicotine (5746-86-1) ; anatabine (581-49-7)

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