News: Nic salts more effective than previously thought, according to study

A new study claims to show that vaping salt-based nicotine could be more beneficial to smokers wanting to quit with the aid of an e-cigarette.

‘Nic salts’ have been credited with giving a similar sensation to smoking a cigarette, and their popularity among new vapers has driven a whole new element to the vape market.

Just how effective salt-based nicotine is in smoking cessation has most recently been backed up by a new peer-reviewed clinical study.

The main findings from the research, published in the Internal and Emergency Medical Journal, suggest that vaping nicotine salts closely replicates the delivery of nicotine provided by smoking cigarettes.

The research also found that almost one third of British smokers (29 percent) are looking to switching to vaping in 2019.

Researchers also monitored for any adverse effects of vaping nic salts but found none to exist.

Dr Grant O’Connell, Head of Scientific Affairs at Imperial Brands and one of the authors on the study said: “Our clinical findings suggest that e-vapour devices with a higher concentration of nicotine in nicotine salt form may be more effective – and more appealing – to adult smokers switching from cigarettes to vaping.”

While there is a growing consensus that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, especially in countries such as the UK which backs vaping as a viable smoking cessation aid, this study shows that a minority of smokers have fully made the transition to vaping. In the UK, there are an estimated 7.4 million adultswho continue to smoke cigarettes.

Dr O’Connell added the mainstream media’s approach to vaping in the UK may not be helping the situation: “While conflicting information in both the scientific press and mainstream media may be deterring many smokers from even trying vaping, both this study and real-world evidence suggests that current e-vapour devices may not be providing smokers with the full satisfaction they derive – and in many cases require – from cigarettes.”

“In our study, the myblu Intense 40 mg/mL nicotine salt product had the closest nicotine uptake profile to cigarettes, while also providing the greatest relief in subjects’ desire to smoke. However, under current EU regulations this product is not permitted. This potentially limits the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking substitute, especially in the case of heavier smokers – a view shared by the UK Government’s House of Commons Science and Technology committee.”

This latest research follows a growing consensus that vaping is substantially less harmful thank smoking and comes on the heels of Public Health England’s recent video campaign showing the effects of vaping versus smoking on the lungs.