Nicotine metabolite ratio predicts efficacy of transdermal nicotine for smoking cessation.
BACKGROUND: Nicotine is metabolized to cotinine, and cotinine is metabolized to 3'-hydroxycotinine (3-HC) by the liver enzyme cytochrome P450 ( CYP) 2A6. More rapid metabolism of nicotine may result in lower nicotine blood levels from nicotine replacement products and poorer smoking cessation outcomes. This study evaluated the utility of the 3-HC/cotinine ratio as a predictor of the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy as an aid for smoking cessation. METHODS: By use of an open-label design, 480 treatment-seeking smokers were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of transdermal nicotine or nicotine nasal spray use, plus behavioral group counseling. Assessments included demographics, smoking history, body mass index, and plasma nicotine, cotinine, and 3-HC concentrations, as well as CYP2A6 genotypes. Smoking cessation was biochemically verified at the end of treatment and at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: The rate of nicotine metabolism, as indicated by pretreatment 3-HC/cotinine ratio derived from cigarette smoking, predicted the effectiveness of transdermal nicotine at both time points. The odds of abstinence were reduced by almost 30% with each increasing quartile of metabolite ratio (odds ratio, 0.72 [95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.90]; P=.005). Higher metabolite ratios also predicted lower nicotine concentrations (beta=-1.72, t(179)=-3.31, P<.001), as well as more severe cravings for cigarettes after 1 week of treatment (beta=0.32, t(190)=2.91, P=.004). The metabolite ratio did not predict cessation with use of nicotine nasal spray (odds ratio, 1.05 [95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.33]; P=.68). CONCLUSION: The nicotine metabolite ratio might be useful in screening smokers to determine likely success with a standard dose of transdermal nicotine.[1]References
- Nicotine metabolite ratio predicts efficacy of transdermal nicotine for smoking cessation. Lerman, C., Tyndale, R., Patterson, F., Wileyto, E.P., Shields, P.G., Pinto, A., Benowitz, N. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. (2006) [Pubmed]
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