Distinct composition and pharmakokinetic profiles of smoke and smokeless tobacco products : development of an analytical method to highlight nicotine consumption as a doping agent

Abstract

Nicotine is a pharmacological active compound found in the tobacco plant, and works as a a stimulant of the central nervous system. Evidence is presented that use of nicotine may have beneficial effects on athletes’ performance. Nicotine is known to cause weight loss and to improve mental capacity by enhancing concentration and relieving anxiety. Additionally, improved exercise endurance after nicotine administration has been demonstrated. By using nicotine containing medications or smokeless tobacco products, athletes can benefit from these effects without most of the health risk associated with smoking.

Nicotine is primarily consumed in the form of tobacco, but a large variety of nicotine containing medications exists as well. The most common forms of tobacco consumption patterns are smoking as cigarette and pipes, and smokeless tobacco, in the form of chewing tobacco, snus and snuff. Depending on the type of product, the tobacco compositions of nicotine, and other compounds naturally present in tobacco, differ to a large extent. Levels of each compound measurable in biological fluids depend on the chemical composition and the distinct pharmacokinetic profile of the consumed product. Theoretically, these variations in levels of investigated compounds could be used to differentiate between nicotine consumption patterns.

In this project, compounds of interest for discriminating between the use of smoke and smokeless tobacco were identified and an LC-MS/MS method involving SPE sample preparation was developed and validated in order to determine concentration levels of these compounds in urine specimens. Further, concentration levels of these molecules were measured in urine specimens from smokers and smokeless tobacco users, and interpretation of preliminary results indicated some variability. Still there is a long way to go before the method is suited to highlight nicotine consumption for a doping purpose.