Oral Smokeless Nicotine Products (OSNPs): A Promising Strategy in Cancer Prevention? - Aleksei V. Trofimov

The work is devoted to the study of oral smokeless nicotine products (OSNPs) in the context of their potential use in the prevention of cancer associated with tobacco consumption. As a result of the analysis of the available data and own experimental studies, the authors have come to the following conclusions: (i) OSNPs, including those containing (snus) and not containing (nicotine packages) tobacco, are indeed a good alternative for a smoker to reduce the risk of cancer; (ii) At moderate doses, nicotine from OSNPs does not appear to have a noticeable immunosuppressive effect; (ii) Even with a minimal nicotine content (4 mg/pack), OSNPs increase the concentration of nicotine in saliva to levels that are significantly higher than that in plasma; (iv) Due to taste and nicotinic receptors in the oral cavity, nicotine through saliva instantly transmits a signal to the brain, changing the balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS); (v) Stress hormones (cortisol, etc.) are more responsive to the rate of entry of nicotine from OSNPs into the bloodstream than to its peak concentrations, which fundamentally distinguishes this type of nicotine delivery from exposure to cigarette smoke.