Nicotine Chemistry, Metabolism, Kinetics and Biomarkers
Neal L. Benowitz, Janne Hukkanen, and Peyton Jacob III
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of California, San
Francisco, Box 1220, San Francisco, CA 94143-1220, USA
Neal L. Benowitz: nbenowitz@medsfgh.ucsf.edu
Abstract
Nicotine underlies tobacco addiction, influences tobacco use patterns, and is used as a
pharmacological aid to smoking cessation. The absorption, distribution and disposition
characteristics of nicotine from tobacco and medicinal products are reviewed. Nicotine is metabolized
primarily by the liver enzymes CYP2A6, UDP-glucuronosyltransfease (UGT), and flavin-containing
monooxygenase (FMO). In addition to genetic factors, nicotine metabolism is influenced by diet and
meals, age, sex, use of estrogen-containing hormone preparations, pregnancy and kidney disease,
other medications, and smoking itself. Substantial racial/ethnic differences are observed in nicotine
metabolism, which are likely influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The most widely
used biomarker of nicotine intake is cotinine, which may be measured in blood, urine, saliva, hair,
or nails. The current optimal plasma cotinine cut-point to distinguish smokers from non-smokers in
the general US population is 3 ng ml−1. This cut-point is much lower than that established 20 years
ago, reflecting less secondhand smoke exposure due to clear air policies and more light or occasional
smoking.
1 Introduction
An understanding of the pharmacology of nicotine and how nicotine produces addiction and
influences smoking behavior provides a necessary basis for therapeutic advances in smoking
cessation interventions. This chapter provides a review of several aspects of the human
pharmacology of nicotine. These include the presence and levels of nicotine and related
alkaloids in tobacco products, the absorption of nicotine from tobacco products and nicotine
medications, the distribution of nicotine in body tissues, the metabolism and renal excretion
of nicotine, nicotine and cotinine blood levels during tobacco use or nicotine replacement
therapy, and biomarkers of nicotine exposure. For more details and references on the
pharmacokinetics and metabolism of nicotine, the reader is referred to Hukkanen et al.
(2005c).
2 Nicotine and Related Alkaloids in Tobacco Products
Nicotine (Fig. 1) is a natural ingredient acting as a botanical insecticide in tobacco leaves. It
is the principal tobacco alkaloid, occurring to the extent of about 1.5% by weight in commercial
cigarette tobacco and comprising about 95% of the total alkaloid content. Oral snuff and pipe
tobacco contain concentrations of nicotine similar to cigarette tobacco, whereas cigar and
chewing tobacco have only about half the nicotine concentration of cigarette tobacco. An
average tobacco rod contains 10–14 mg of nicotine (Kozlowski et al. 1998), and on average
about 1–1.5 mg of nicotine is absorbed systemically during smoking (Benowitz and Jacob
1984). Nicotine in tobacco is largely the levorotary (S)-isomer; only 0.1–0.6% of total nicotine
Correspondence to: Neal L. Benowitz, nbenowitz@medsfgh.ucsf.edu.
NIH Public Access
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Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2009 ; (192): 29–60. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-69248-5_2.
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content is (R)-nicotine (Armstrong et al. 1998). Chemical reagents and pharmaceutical
formulations of (S)-nicotine have a similar content of (R)-nicotine (0.1–1.2%) as impurity since
plant-derived nicotine is used for their manufacture.
In most tobacco strains, nornicotine and anatabine are the most abundant of minor alkaloids,
followed by anabasine (Fig. 1). This order of abundance is the same in cigarette tobacco and
oral snuff, chewing, pipe, and cigar tobacco (Jacob et al. 1999). However, nornicotine levels
are highest in cigar tobacco, anatabine levels are lowest in chewing tobacco and oral snuff, and
anabasine levels are lowest in chewing tobacco (Jacob et al. 1999). Small amounts of the N′methyl
derivatives of anabasine and anatabine are found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Several
of the minor alkaloids are thought to arise by bacterial action or oxidation during tobacco
processing rather than by biosynthetic processes in the living plant (Leete 1983). These include
myosmine, N′-methylmyosmine, cotinine, nicotyrine, nornicotyrine, nicotine N′-oxide, 2, 3′bipyridyl,
and metanicotine (Fig. 1). Myosmine is found not only in tobacco but also in a variety
of foods including nuts, cereals, milk, and potatoes (Tyroller et al. 2002). Also, nicotine is
found in low levels in vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants (Siegmund et al.
1999).
3 Absorption of Nicotine
Nicotine is distilled from burning tobacco and carried proximally on tar droplets (also called
particulate matter), which are inhaled. Absorption of nicotine across biological membranes
depends on pH. Nicotine is a weak base with a pKa of 8.0. In its ionized state, such as in acidic
environments, nicotine does not rapidly cross membranes. The pH of smoke from flue-cured
tobaccos, found in most cigarettes, is acidic (pH 5.5–6.0). At this pH, nicotine is primarily
ionized. As a consequence, there is little buccal absorption of nicotine from flue-cured tobacco
smoke, even when it is held in the mouth (Gori et al. 1986). Smoke from air-cured tobaccos,
the predominant tobacco used in pipes, cigars, and some European cigarettes, is more alkaline
(pH 6.5 or higher) and, considerable nicotine is unionized. Smoke from these products is well
absorbed through the mouth (Armitage et al. 1978). It has recently been proposed that the pH
of cigarette smoke particulate matter is higher than previously thought, and thus, a larger
portion of nicotine would be in the unionized form, facilitating rapid pulmonary absorption
(Pankow 2001).
When tobacco smoke reaches the small airways and alveoli of the lung, nicotine is rapidly
absorbed. Blood concentrations of nicotine rise quickly during a smoke and peak at the
completion of smoking (Fig. 2). The rapid absorption of nicotine from cigarette smoke through
the lungs, presumably because of the huge surface area of the alveoli and small airways, and
dissolution of nicotine in the fluid of pH 7.4 in the human lung facilitate transfer across
membranes. After a puff, high levels of nicotine reach the brain in 10–20 s, faster than with
intravenous administration, producing rapid behavioral reinforcement (Benowitz 1990). The
rapidity of rise in nicotine levels permits the smoker to titrate the level of nicotine and related
effects during smoking, and makes smoking the most reinforcing and dependence-producing
form of nicotine administration (Henningfield and Keenan 1993).
The process of cigarette smoking is complex and, as mentioned above, the smoker can
manipulate the dose of nicotine and nicotine brain levels on a puff-by-puff basis. Intake of
nicotine during smoking depends on puff volume, depth of inhalation, the extent of dilution
with room air, and the rate and intensity of puffing (USDHHS 2001). For this reason, machinedetermined
nicotine yields of cigarettes cannot be used to estimate the dose of nicotine by a
smoker (Jarvis et al. 2001). In general, cigarette smokers switching from a higher to a loweryield
cigarette will compensate, i.e., will change their smoking pattern to gain more nicotine
(USDHHS 2001).
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Chewing tobacco and snuff are buffered to alkaline pH to facilitate absorption of nicotine
through oral mucosa. Although absorption through cell membranes is rapid for these more
alkaline tobacco products, the rise in the brain nicotine level is slower than with smoking (Fig.
2). Concentrations of nicotine in the blood rise gradually with the use of smokeless tobacco
and plateau at about 30 min, with levels persisting and declining only slowly over 2 h or more
(Benowitz et al. 1988).
Various formulations of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as nicotine gum,
transdermal patch, nasal spray, inhaler, sublingual tablets, and lozenges, are buffered to
alkaline pH to facilitate absorption of nicotine through cell membranes. Absorption of nicotine
from all NRTs is slower and the increase in nicotine blood levels is more gradual than from
smoking. This slow increase in blood and especially in brain levels results in low abuse liability
of NRTs (West et al. 2000). Only nasal spray provides a rapid delivery of nicotine that is closer
to the rate of nicotine delivery achieved with smoking (Gourlay and Benowitz 1997; Guthrie
et al. 1999). The absolute dose of nicotine absorbed systemically from nicotine gum is much
less than the nicotine content of the gum, in part, because considerable nicotine is swallowed
with subsequent first-pass metabolism (Benowitz et al. 1987). Some nicotine is also retained
in chewed gum. A portion of the nicotine dose is swallowed and subjected to first-pass
metabolism when using other NRTs, inhaler, sublingual tablets, nasal spray, and lozenges.
Bioavailability for these products with absorption mainly through the mucosa of the oral cavity
and a considerable swallowed portion is about 50–80%.
Nicotine base is well absorbed through skin. That is the reason for the occupational risk of
nicotine poisoning (green tobacco sickness) in tobacco harvesters who are exposed to wet
tobacco leaves (McBride et al. 1998). That is also the basis for transdermal delivery technology.
Currently in the United States several different nicotine transdermal systems are marketed. All
are multilayer patches. The rate of release of nicotine into the skin is controlled by the
permeability of the skin, rate of diffusion through a polymer matrix, and/or rate of passage
through a membrane in the various patches. Rates of nicotine delivery and plasma nicotine
concentrations vary among different transdermal systems (Fant et al. 2000). In all cases, there
is an initial lag time of about 1 h before nicotine appears in the bloodstream, and there is
continued systemic absorption (about 10% of the total dose) after the patch is removed, the
latter due to residual nicotine in the skin.
4 Distribution of Nicotine in Body Tissues
After absorption, nicotine enters the bloodstream where, at pH 7.4, it is about 69% ionized and
31% unionized. Binding to plasma proteins is less than 5% (Benowitz et al. 1982a). The drug
is distributed extensively to body tissues with a steady-state volume of distribution averaging
2.6 L/Kg. Based on human autopsy samples from smokers, the highest affinity for nicotine is
in the liver, kidney, spleen, and lung and lowest in adipose tissue. In skeletal muscle,
concentrations of nicotine and cotinine are close to that of whole blood. Nicotine binds to brain
tissues with high affinity, and the receptor binding capacity is increased in smokers compared
with nonsmokers (Breese et al. 1997; Perry et al. 1999). Increase in the binding is caused by a
higher number of nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the brain of the smokers. Nicotine
accumulates markedly in gastric juice and saliva (Lindell et al. 1996). Gastric juice/plasma and
saliva/plasma concentration ratios are 61 and 11 with transdermal nicotine administration, and
53 and 87 with smoking, respectively (Lindell et al. 1996). Accumulation is caused by iontrapping
of nicotine in gastric juice and saliva. Nicotine also accumulates in breast milk (milk/
plasma ratio 2.9) (Dahlstrom et al. 1990). Nicotine crosses the placental barrier easily, and
there is evidence for accumulation of nicotine in fetal serum and amnionic fluid in slightly
higher concentrations than in maternal serum (Dempsey and Benowitz 2001).
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The time course of nicotine accumulation in the brain and in other body organs and the resultant
pharmacologic effects are highly dependent on the route and rate of dosing. Smoking a cigarette
delivers nicotine rapidly to the pulmonary venous circulation, from which it moves quickly to
the left ventricle of the heart and to the systemic arterial circulation and brain. The lag time
between a puff of a cigarette and nicotine reaching the brain is 10–20 s. Although delivery of
nicotine to the brain is rapid, there is nevertheless significant pulmonary uptake and some
delayed release of nicotine as evidenced by pulmonary positron emission tomography data and
the slow decrease in arterial concentrations of nicotine between puffs. (Rose et al. 1999)
Nicotine concentrations in arterial blood after smoking a cigarette can be quite high, reaching
up to 100 ng ml−1, but usually ranging between 20 and 60 ng ml−1 (Gourlay and Benowitz
1997; Henningfield and Keenan 1993; Lunell et al. 2000; Rose et al. 1999). The usual peak
arterial nicotine concentration after the first puff is lower, averaging 7 ng ml−1. As high as
tenfold arterial/venous nicotine concentration ratios have been measured (Henningfield et al.
1993), but the mean ratio is typically around 2.3–2.8 (Gourlay and Benowitz 1997; Rose et al.
1999). The rapid rate of delivery of nicotine by smoking (or intravenous injection, which
presents similar distribution kinetics) results in high levels of nicotine in the central nervous
system with little time for development of tolerance. The result is a more intense pharmacologic
action. The short time interval between puffing and nicotine entering the brain also allows the
smoker to titrate the dose of nicotine to a desired pharmacologic effect, further reinforcing drug
self-administration and facilitating the development of addiction.
5 Metabolism of Nicotine
5.1 Pathways of Nicotine and Cotinine Metabolism
Nicotine is extensively metabolized to a number of metabolites (Fig. 3) by the liver. Six primary
metabolites of nicotine have been identified. Quantitatively, the most important metabolite of
nicotine in most mammalian species is the lactam derivative, cotinine. In humans, about 70–
80% of nicotine is converted to cotinine. This transformation involves two steps. The first is
mediated primarily by CYP2A6 to produce nicotine-Δ1′ (5′)-iminium ion, which is in
equilibrium with 5′-hydroxynicotine. The second step is catalyzed by a cytoplasmic aldehyde
oxidase. Nicotine iminium ion has received considerable interest since it is an alkylating agent
and, as such, could play a role in the pharmacology of nicotine (Shigenaga et al. 1988).
Nicotine N′-oxide is another primary metabolite of nicotine, although only about 4–7% of
nicotine absorbed by smokers is metabolized via this route (Benowitz et al. 1994). The
conversion of nicotine to nicotine N′-oxide involves a flavin-containing monooxygenase 3
(FMO3), which results in formation of both possible diasteriomers, the 1′-(R)-2′-(S)-cis and
1′-(S)-2′-(S)-trans-isomers in animals (Cashman et al. 1992; Park et al. 1993). In humans, this
pathway is highly selective for the trans-isomer (Cashman et al. 1992). Only the trans-isomer
of nicotine N′-oxide was detected in urine after administration of nicotine by intravenous
infusion, trans-dermal patch or smoking (Park et al. 1993). It appears that nicotine N′-oxide is
not further metabolized to any significant extent, except by reduction back to nicotine in the
intestines, which may lead to recycling nicotine in the body.
In addition to oxidation of the pyrrolidine ring, nicotine is metabolized by two nonoxidative
pathways, methylation of the pyridine nitrogen giving nicotine isomethonium ion (also called
N -methylnicotinium ion) and glucuronidation.
Nicotine glucuronidation results in an N-quaternary glucuronide in humans (Benowitz et al.
1994). This reaction is catalyzed by uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)
enzyme(s) producing (S)-nicotine-N-β-glucuronide. About 3–5% of nicotine is converted to
nicotine glucuronide and excreted in urine in humans.
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Oxidative N-demethylation is frequently an important pathway in the metabolism of
xenobiotics, but this route is, in most species, a minor pathway in the metabolism of nicotine.
Conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in humans has been demonstrated. We found that small
amounts of deuterium-labeled nornicotine are excreted in the urine of smokers administered
deuterium-labeled nicotine (Jacob and Benowitz 1991). Metabolic formation of nornicotine
from nicotine has also been reported (Neurath et al. 1991). Nornicotine is a constituent of
tobacco leaves. However, most urine nornicotine is derived from metabolism of nicotine with
less than 40% coming directly from tobacco, as estimated from the difference in nornicotine
excretion in smokers during smoking and transdermal nicotine treatment (0.65 and 0.41%,
respectively) (Benowitz et al. 1994). A new cytochrome P450-mediated metabolic pathway
for nicotine metabolism was reported by Hecht et al. (2000). 2′-Hydroxylation of nicotine was
shown to produce 4-(methylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone with 2′-hydroxynicotine as an
intermediate. 2′-Hydroxynicotine also yields nicotine-Δ1′(2′)-iminium ion. 4-(methylamino)-1(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone
is further metabolized to 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butanoic acid and 4hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butanoic
acid. The new pathway is potentially significant since 4(methylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone
can be converted to carcinogenic NNK. However,
endogenous production of NNK from nicotine has not been detected in humans or rats (Hecht
et al. 1999a).
Although on average about 70–80% of nicotine is metabolized via the cotinine pathway in
humans, only 10–15% of nicotine absorbed by smokers appears in the urine as unchanged
cotinine (Benowitz et al. 1994). Six primary metabolites of cotinine have been reported in
humans: 3′-hydroxycotinine (McKennis et al. 1963; Neurath et al. 1987), 5′-hydroxycotinine
(also called allohydroxycotinine) (Neurath 1994), which exists in tautomeric equilibrium with
the open chain derivative 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)-N-methylbutanamide, cotinine N-oxide,
cotinine methonium ion, cotinine glucuronide, and norcotinine (also called demethylcotinine).
3′-Hydroxycotinine is the main nicotine metabolite detected in smokers’ urine. It is also
excreted as a glucuronide conjugate (Benowitz et al. 1994). 3′-Hydroxycotinine and its
glucuronide conjugate account for 40–60% of the nicotine dose in urine (Benowitz et al.
1994; Byrd et al. 1992). The conversion of cotinine to 3′-hydroxycotinine in humans is highly
stereoselective for the trans-isomer, as less than 5% is detected as cis-3′-hydroxycotinine in
urine (Jacob et al. 1990; Voncken et al. 1990). While nicotine and cotinine conjugates are N glucuronides,
the only 3′-hydroxycotinine conjugate detected in urine is O-glucuronide (Byrd
et al. 1994).
Quantitative aspects of the pattern of nicotine metabolism have been elucidated fairly well in
people (Fig. 4). Approximately 90% of a systemic dose of nicotine can be accounted for as
nicotine and metabolites in urine (Benowitz et al. 1994). Based on studies with simultaneous
infusion of labeled nicotine and cotinine, it has been determined that 70–80% of nicotine is
converted to cotinine (Benowitz and Jacob 1994). About 4–7% of nicotine is excreted as
nicotine N′–oxide and 3–5% as nicotine glucuronide (Benowitz et al. 1994;Byrd et al. 1992).
Cotinine is excreted unchanged in urine to a small degree (10–15% of the nicotine and
metabolites in urine). The remainder is converted to metabolites, primarily trans–3′–
hydroxycotinine (33–40%), cotinine glucuronide (12–17%), and trans–3′–hydroxycotinine
glucuronide (7–9%).
5.2 Rates of Nicotine and Cotinine Metabolism
The rate of metabolism of nicotine can be determined by measuring blood levels after
administration of a known dose of nicotine (Table 1) (Hukkanen et al. 2005c). Total clearance
of nicotine averages about 1200 ml min−1. Nonrenal clearance represents about 70% of liver
blood flow. Assuming most nicotine is metabolized by the liver, this means that about 70% of
the drug is extracted from blood in each pass through the liver.
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The metabolism of cotinine is much slower than that of nicotine. Cotinine clearance averages
about 45 ml min−1. Clearance of (3′ R, 5′ S)-trans-3′-hydroxycotinine is also quite slow – about
82 ml min−1.
5.3 Use of the Nicotine Metabolite Ratio
The 3′-hydroxycotinine/cotinine ratio (3HC/cotinine) in plasma and saliva has been evaluated
as a non-invasive probe for CYP2A6 activity (Dempsey et al. 2004). The ratio was highly
correlated with oral clearance of nicotine and the oral clearance and half-life of cotinine.
Correlation coefficients of oral nicotine and cotinine clearances with plasma 3′hydroxycotinine/cotinine
ratios were 0.78 and 0.63, respectively, at 6 h after oral nicotine
dosing.
The availability of a phenotypic marker of CYP2A6 activity is important because there is wide
variability in nicotine clearance among people with wild-type CYP2A6 genes and only a small
proportion of the genetic variability in nicotine clearance can be explained by known CYP2A6
gene variants, at least in whites (Swan et al. 2005). The 3′-hydroxycotinine/cotinine ratio can
be used to phenotype nicotine metabolism and CYP2A6 enzyme in smokers while smoking
their usual cigarettes (Johnstone et al. 2006; Kandel et al. 2007; Lerman et al. 2006; Patterson
et al. 2008). The 3HC/cotinine ratio has been studied as predictor of response to
pharmacotherapy.
In one trial, where transdermal nicotine and nicotine nasal spray were compared, the nicotine
metabolite ratio (derived from nicotine taken in from tobacco) was shown to be a strong
predictor of smoking cessation, both at the end of treatment and in 6 months, in people treated
with transdermal nicotine but not nicotine nasal spray (Lerman et al. 2006). In patients treated
with transdermal nicotine, slow metabolizers had better cessation response and higher plasma
nicotine concentration while using the patch than faster metabolizers, suggesting that higher
nicotine levels might be responsible for a better cessation outcome. In contrast, smokers treated
with nicotine nasal spray showed no difference in plasma nicotine concentration as a function
of the rate of nicotine metabolism, consistent with the idea that nicotine taken in from the spray
is titrated by the smoker to the desired effect. However, another recent trial examined the
association between the nicotine metabolite ratio and response to bupropion therapy (Patterson
et al. 2008). Faster metabolism of nicotine was associated with lower success rate in quitting
in a placebo-treated group; but among smokers receiving bupropion, the rate of nicotine
metabolism had no differential effect. Bupropion is not metabolized by CYP2A6. Therefore,
the findings of the Patterson study are consistent with the idea that rapid metabolizers of
nicotine are generally more dependent and have a harder time quitting than do slow
metabolizers. The mechanisms of such a relationship have not been proven, but may include
more severe withdrawal symptoms and/or a different type of nicotine reinforcement related to
more rapid loss of tolerance in fast metabolizers.
Various enzymes involved in nicotine metabolism and their genetics are described in detail in
the chapter by Mwenifumbo and Tyndale in this volume.
6 Factors Influencing Nicotine Metabolism
There is considerable inter individual variability in the rate of elimination of nicotine and
cotinine in people (Swan et al. 2005). Besides genetic variations discussed by Mwenifumbo
and Tyndale, a number of factors that might explain individual variability have been studied.
6.1 Physiological Influences
6.1.1 Diet and Meals—An implication of the high degree of hepatic extraction is that
clearance of nicotine should be dependent on liver blood flow. Thus, physiological events,
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such as meals, posture, exercise, or drugs perturbing hepatic blood flow, are predicted to affect
the rate of nicotine metabolism. Meals consumed during a steady state infusion of nicotine
result in a consistent decline in nicotine concentrations, the maximal effect seen 30–60 min
after the end of a meal (Gries et al. 1996; Lee et al. 1989). Hepatic blood flow increases about
30% and nicotine clearance increases about 40% after a meal.
Menthol is widely used as a flavorant in foods, mouthwash, toothpaste, and cigarettes. A
moderate inhibition of CYP2A6-mediated nicotine metabolism in human liver microsomes by
menthol and various related compounds has been reported (MacDougall et al. 2003). This is
supported by a crossover study in people, showing that mentholated cigarette smoking
significantly inhibits metabolism of nicotine to cotinine and nicotine glucuronidation when
compared to smoking nonmentholated cigarettes (Benowitz et al. 2004).
Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP2A6, as evidenced by inhibition of coumarin metabolism in
people (Runkel et al. 1997). Grapefruit juice has been shown to inhibit the metabolism of
nicotine to cotinine in nonsmokers who were given nicotine orally, with evidence of a greater
effect with larger doses of grapefruit juice (Hukkanen et al. 2006). Grapefruit juice also
increased renal clearance of nicotine and cotinine by an unknown mechanism. Grapefruit juice
had no significant effect on overall exposure to nicotine (area under the plasma concentration–
time curve) because the effects of slowed metabolism were offset by the effects on increased
renal clearance. Whether the effects of grapefruit juice on nicotine levels in users of tobacco
are significant has not been investigated. Consumption of watercress enhances the formation
of nicotine glucuronide, cotinine glucuronide, and 3′-hydroxycotinine glucuronide in smokers
(Hecht et al. 1999b). Watercress has no effect on the excretion of nicotine, cotinine, and 3′hydroxycotinine
in smokers. Thus, watercress may induce some UGT enzymes involved in
nicotine metabolism, but has no effect on CYP2A6-mediated nicotine metabolism.
6.1.2 Age—Clearance of nicotine is decreased in the elderly (age >65) compared to adults
(Molander et al. 2001). Total clearance was lower by 23%, and renal clearance lower by 49%
in the elderly compared to young adults. Lower nicotine metabolism in the elderly may be
contributed to by reduced liver blood flow, since no decrease in CYP2A6 protein levels or
nicotine metabolism in liver microsomes due to age has been detected (Messina et al. 1997).
No differences in steady-state nicotine plasma levels or estimated plasma clearance values
were detected in three age groups (18–39, 40–59, and 60–69 years) using patches with the same
nicotine content (Gourlay and Benowitz 1996). The volume of distribution of nicotine is lower
in older subjects due to a decrease in lean body mass (Molander et al. 2001).
Neonates have diminished nicotine metabolism, as demonstrated by a nicotine half-life of three
to four times longer in newborns exposed to tobacco smoke than in adults (Dempsey et al.
2000). Cotinine half-life is reported to be similar in neonates, older children, and adults in two
studies (Dempsey et al. 2000; Leong et al. 1998). Other studies found that the half-life of urine
cotinine was about three times longer in children less than one year old than to the cotinine
half-life in adults (Collier et al. 1994). Urine cotinine half-life can be influenced by variations
in urine volume and excretion of creatinine. The study by Dempsey et al. was the only one in
which the half-life of cotinine was calculated based on both the blood and urine cotinine
concentrations (Dempsey et al. 2000). In that study, both the blood and urine half-lives were
similar to adult values, supporting the notion that neonates have the same cotinine half-life as
older children and adults.
Why nicotine has a much longer half-life in neonates than in adults, whereas the cotinine halflife
is essentially the same in newborns and adults, might partially be explained by differing
sensitivities of nicotine and cotinine clearances to changes in hepatic blood flow. As a drug
with a high extraction ratio, the clearance of nicotine is influenced by changes in hepatic blood
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flow, whereas clearance of cotinine with low extraction ratio is more dependent on changes in
intrinsic clearance, i.e., amount and activity of metabolic enzymes. Studies in newborn animals,
mainly sheep, have shown that hepatic blood flow is low immediately after delivery because
of the loss of the umbilical venous blood supply and the patency of ductus venosus (Gow et
al. 2001). Hepatic blood flow (ml−1 min−1 mg of liver) rises to adult levels within the first
week, due to increased blood flow in the portal vein and gradual closure of ductus venosus,
which is complete by the eighteenth day in human neonates. This would mean that nicotine
clearance should rise and the nicotine half-life shorten within the first couple of weeks as
hepatic blood flow increases. Another explanation could be that nicotine and cotinine are
metabolized mainly by enzymes other than CYP2A6 in neonates. However, neonates have only
slightly lower amounts of CYP2A6, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1 protein in liver microsomes,
whereas the CYP2B6 amount is clearly diminished in neonates compared to adults and older
children (Tateishi et al. 1997).
6.1.3 Chronopharmacokinetics of Nicotine—During sleep, hepatic blood flow declines
and nicotine clearance falls correspondingly. Blood nicotine levels rise during constant
infusion at night. Nicotine clearance varies by approximately 17% (from peak to trough) with
a minimum between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. Thus, the day/night variation and meal effects of nicotine
clearance result in circadian variations in plasma concentrations during constant dosing of
nicotine (Gries et al. 1996).
6.1.4 Gender Related Differences in Nicotine Metabolism
Differences between Men and Women: A twin study with intravenous infusions of both
nicotine and cotinine clearly shows that nicotine and cotinine clearances are higher in women
than in men; oral contraceptive use further accelerates nicotine and cotinine clearances in
women (Benowitz et al. 2006). Nicotine clearance and cotinine clearance were 13 and 24%
higher, respectively, in women not using oral contraceptives than in men. Oral contraceptive
use induced increases in nicotine and cotinine clearance by 28 and 30%, respectively, compared
to women not using oral contraceptives. The gender difference was also detected in recent
studies on smokers, showing that the ratio of 3HC/cotinine in blood or urine is significantly
higher in women indicating faster metabolism in women than men (Johnstone et al. 2006;
Kandel et al. 2007).
Pregnancy and Menstrual Cycle: Pregnancy has a marked inducing effect in nicotine and
especially cotinine clearance. Clearance is increased by 60 and 140% for nicotine and cotinine,
respectively, in pregnancy compared to postpartum (Dempsey et al. 2002). Nicotine is a rapidly
cleared drug with a high affinity for CYP2A6 and its rate of clearance is primarily controlled
by hepatic blood flow, while the rate of cotinine clearance is primarily determined by the
activity of metabolizing enzymes in the liver. The finding that in pregnancy cotinine clearance
is increased more than nicotine clearance indicates that the increase in clearance is most likely
caused by induction of CYP2A6, and not by an increase in hepatic blood flow. A study
comparing women during pregnancy and again postpartum, found that the mean salivary
cotinine concentration per cigarette was higher when not pregnant (3.5 ng ml−1 vs. 9.9 ng
ml−1), consistent with higher cotinine clearance during pregnancy (Rebagliato et al. 1998).
Pregnant smokers had substantially lower levels of serum nicotine than expected when
standardized for their nicotine intake compared to population-based values (Selby et al.
2001). Nicotine and cotinine glucuronidation is induced by pregnancy, while 3′hydroxycotinine
glucuronidation is not (Dempsey et al. 2002). Menstrual cycle (follicular
phase vs. luteal phase) has no effect on nicotine and cotinine pharmacokinetics in healthy
nonsmoking women (Hukkanen et al. 2005b). Pregnancy also increases the rate of formation
of nicotine N′-oxide, indicating induction of the enzyme, flavin-containing monooxygenase 3
(Hukkanen et al. 2005a).
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The above-mentioned results show that gender has substantial effects on nicotine and cotinine
metabolism. Higher metabolism of nicotine and cotinine is detected in women than in men, in
users of oral contraceptives than in women not using oral contraceptives, and in pregnant
women than in the same subjects postpartum. Furthermore, the inducing effect has a dose–
response relationship; gender differences are relatively small, oral contraceptive use further
induces metabolism in women, and pregnancy shows the most striking induction compared to
postpartum. Changes in clearance appear to be related to the amount of sex hormones present;
women have higher concentrations of estrogens and progesterone than men do, oral
contraceptive users have higher concentrations of these hormones than women not using oral
contraceptives, and pregnancy results in the highest concentrations of circulating sex
hormones. These results suggest that CYP2A6 activity is induced by sex hormones and there
is recent in-vitro evidence for the induction of human CYP2A6 by estrogen acting on the
estrogen receptor (Higashi et al. 2007).
Kidney Disease: Kidney failure not only decreases renal clearance of nicotine and cotinine,
but also metabolic clearance of nicotine (Molander et al. 2000). Metabolic clearance of nicotine
is reduced by 50% in subjects with severe renal impairment compared to healthy subjects. It
is speculated that accumulation of uremic toxins may inhibit CYP2A6 activity or downregulate
CYP2A6 expression in liver. Hepatic metabolism of several drugs is reduced in kidney failure,
mainly via downregulation of CYP enzymes and/or inhibition of transporters (Nolin et al.
2003).
6.2 Medications
6.2.1 Inducers—A few drugs have been shown to induce CYP2A6 in human primary
hepatocyte culture. These include prototypical inducers rifampicin, dexamethasone, and
phenobarbital, although there is wide interindividual variability in response (Madan et al.
2003; Meunier et al. 2000; Rae et al. 2001). Rifampicin was also shown to inhibit CYP2A6
activity as measured by coumarin 7-hydroxylase (Xia et al. 2002). Thus the presence of
rifampin may inhibit while chronic administration of rifampin may induce CYP2A6. That
might explain the highly variable effects on CYP2A6 induction seen in studies with rifampicin.
There is evidence for the induction of CYP2A6 in vivo by phenobarbital and other
anticonvulsant drugs. Two-day treatment with phenobarbital (100 mg per day p.o.) prior to a
liver biopsy resulted in induction of metabolism of nicotine to cotinine in hepatocytes
(Kyerematen et al. 1990). Liver microsomes from phenobarbital-treated patients have higher
amounts of CYP2A6 protein than microsomes from untreated patients (Cashman et al. 1992).
A recent study showed that the antimalarial drug artemisinin significantly altered the
pharmacokinetics of both nicotine and coumarin, suggesting induction of CYP2A6. (Asimus
et al. 2008).
As mentioned earlier, nicotine and cotinine clearances are higher in women using oral
contraceptives than in women not using oral contraceptives (Benowitz et al. 2006). Oral
contraceptive use induced nicotine and cotinine clearances by 28 and 30%, respectively. A
previous small-scale study with caffeine phenotyping of CYP2A6 activity showed a 22%
increase in CYP2A6 activity in oral contraceptive users compared to women not using
contraceptives (Krul and Hageman 1998).
6.2.2 Inhibitors—Several compounds are inhibitors of CYP2A6-mediated nicotine
metabolism in vitro, including methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen), tranylcypromine,
tryptamine and coumarin (Le Gal et al. 2003; MacDougall et al. 2003; Nakajima et al. 1996;
Zhang et al. 2001). Raloxifene is a potent inhibitor of aldehyde oxidase and it has been shown
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to inhibit the formation of cotinine from nicotine-Δ1′ (5′)-iminium ion in human liver cytosol
(Obach 2004).
Only methoxsalen (used in the photochemotherapy of psoriasis) and tranyl-cypromine (a
monoamine oxidase inhibitor) have been demonstrated to inhibit nicotine metabolism in people
(Sellers et al. 2000, 2003). These compounds are only moderately specific for CYP2A6;
methoxsalen is also a potent inhibitor of CYP1A2, and tranylcypromine inhibits CYP2B6 and
CYP2E1 (Taavitsainen et al. 2001; Zhang et al. 2001). Methoxsalen reduces first-pass
metabolism of oral nicotine, decreases clearance of subcutaneously administered nicotine, and
decreases urinary levels of 3′-hydroxycotinine in smokers (Sellers et al. 2000, 2003). Tranylcypromine
has been shown to reduce first-pass metabolism of oral nicotine (Tyndale and
Sellers 2001). As smokers smoke at least in part to maintain desired levels of nicotine in the
brain, decreased metabolism and higher concentration of nicotine result in a reduction in the
number of cigarettes smoked (Sellers et al. 2000). Also, as CYP2A6 is involved in the activation
of carcinogenic NNK, inhibition of CYP2A6 routes the metabolism of NNK towards the
inactive NNAL-glucuronide (Sellers et al. 2003). Thus, CYP2A6 inhibitors might be of use in
reduction of smoking, thereby decreasing the exposure to carcinogenic metabolites, possibly
reducing the risk of cancer, and enhancing the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapies.
6.3 Smoking
6.3.1 Inhibiting Effect of Smoking on Nicotine Clearance—Cigarette smoking itself
influences the rate of metabolism of nicotine. Cigarette smoking is known to accelerate the
metabolism of some drugs, especially the ones primarily metabolized by CYP1A2 (Zevin and
Benowitz 1999). However, we found that the clearance of nicotine was significantly slower in
cigarette smokers than in nonsmokers (Benowitz and Jacob 1993). In support of this
observation are crossover studies comparing the clearance of nicotine in the same subjects
when smoking compared to when not smoking. After 4 days of smoking abstinence, nicotine
clearance was increased by 14% (Benowitz and Jacob 2000), and after 7 days of abstinence,
nicotine clearance was 36% higher (Lee et al. 1987), when compared to overnight abstinence
from cigarettes.
These studies suggest that there are substance(s) in tobacco smoke, as yet unidentified, that
inhibit the metabolism of nicotine. Because nicotine and cotinine are metabolized by the same
enzyme, the possibility that cotinine might be responsible for the slowed metabolism of nicotine
in smokers was examined. In a study in which nonsmokers received an intravenous infusion
of nicotine with and without pretreatment with high doses of cotinine, there was no effect of
cotinine on the clearance of nicotine (Zevin et al. 1997). Also, carbon monoxide at levels and
in patterns similar to those experienced during smoking had no effect on nicotine and cotinine
clearance (Benowitz and Jacob 2000).
Recently, β-nicotyrine, a minor tobacco alkaloid, was shown to effectively inhibit CYP2A6 in
vitro (Denton et al. 2004). Thus, β-nicotyrine is one candidate in the search for the inhibiting
compound in tobacco smoke. Another possibility is that reduced nicotine clearance is due to
downregulation of CYP2A6 expression, and not due to inhibition. Tyndale and coworkers have
demonstrated that administration of nicotine for 21 days to monkeys in vivo decreases CYP2A6
activity (nicotine metabolism) by downregulating CYP2A6 mRNA and protein in liver
(Schoedel et al. 2003). Interestingly, expression of both CYP2A and CYP3A5 mRNAs are
markedly reduced in human pulmonary tissues in smokers compared to nonsmokers (Crawford
et al. 1998; Hukkanen et al. 2003). The mechanisms of the downregulation are currently
unknown.
6.3.2 Inducing Effect of Smoking on Glucuronidation—The excretion of 3′hydroxycotinine
O-glucuronide is induced by smoking, when compared to not smoking studied
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with a crossover design (Benowitz and Jacob 2000). The extent of nicotine and cotinine Nglucuronidation
was not significantly affected by smoking. Smoking is known to induce
glucuronidation of some drugs, such as propranolol and oxazepam (Liston et al. 2001). Urinary
excretion of 3′-hydroxycotinine O-glucuronide is correlated with the excretion of NNAL-Oglucuronide
(Hecht et al. 1999b), which is formed by UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 (Ren et al.
2000). TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), an AHR (arylhydrocarbon receptor)
agonist, induces UGT1A9 but does not induce UGT2B7 in human Caco-2 cells (Munzel et al.
1999). Thus, UGT1A9 could be the inducible component of 3′-hydroxycotinine O-
glucuronidation.
6.4 Racial and Ethnic Differences
Racial differences in nicotine and cotinine metabolism have been observed. We compared
nicotine and cotinine metabolism in blacks and whites (Benowitz et al. 1999; Perez-Stable et
al. 1998). The total and nonrenal clearance of cotinine was significantly lower in blacks than
in whites (total clearance 0.57 vs. 0.76 ml min−1 kg−1). Also, the fractional clearance of nicotine
to cotinine, and the metabolic clearance of nicotine to cotinine were lower in blacks. The
clearance of nicotine tended to be lower in blacks than in whites (18.1 vs. 20.5 ml min−1
kg−1), but this difference was not significant. Excretion of nicotine and cotinine glucuronides
was lower in blacks, while excretion of 3′-hydroxycotinine glucuronide was similar in both
groups. Nicotine and cotinine glucuronidation appeared to be polymorphic in blacks, with
evidence of slow and fast N-glucuronide formers. The distribution of glucuronidation was
unimodal in whites. Polymorphic patterns of cotinine glucuronidation in blacks has been
detected in other studies (de Leon et al. 2002). Slower metabolism of cotinine explains in part
the higher cotinine levels per cigarette detected in blacks than in whites (Caraballo et al.
1998; English et al. 1994; Wagenknecht et al. 1990). One possible explanation for the slower
cotinine metabolism in blacks is the significantly higher proportion of menthol cigarette
smokers in blacks than in whites (69% vs. 22% in the general US population, 76% vs. 9% in
our study) (Benowitz et al. 1999; Giovino et al. 2004). As discussed earlier, menthol cigarette
smoking inhibits nicotine oxidation and glucuronidation (Benowitz et al. 2004).
Nicotine and cotinine metabolism among Chinese–Americans, Latinos, and whites has been
compared (Benowitz et al. 2002b). Chinese–Americans had the lowest total and nonrenal
clearance of nicotine and cotinine, and lowest metabolic clearance of nicotine via the cotinine
pathway. Also, nicotine intake per cigarette was lower in Chinese–Americans than in Latinos
and whites. No significant differences in nicotine and cotinine metabolism or nicotine intake
were detected between Latinos and whites. Glucuronidation of nicotine and metabolites did
not differ between the groups. Consistent with the findings in experimental studies, Kandel et
al. found in an epidemiologic study that the 3HC/cotinine ratio in the urine of young adult
smokers, reflecting CYP2A6 activity, was higher in whites and Hispanics than in blacks and
Asians (Kandel et al. 2007).
7 Renal Excretion
Nicotine is excreted by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion, with variable reabsorption
depending on urinary pH. With uncontrolled urine pH, renal clearance averages about 35–90
ml min−1, accounting for the elimination of about 5% of total clearance. In acid urine, nicotine
is mostly ionized and tubular reabsorption is minimized; renal clearance may be as high as 600
ml min−1 (urinary pH 4.4), depending on urinary flow rate (Benowitz and Jacob 1985). In
alkaline urine, a larger fraction of nicotine is unionized, allowing net tubular reabsorption with
a renal clearance as low as 17 ml min−1 (urine pH 7.0).
In vitro studies have shown that there are distinct transport systems for both basolateral and
apical uptake of nicotine (Takami et al. 1998). Nicotine has been shown to be actively
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transported by kidney cells, most likely by the organic ion transporter OCT2 (Zevin et al.
1998; Urakami et al. 1998). Cimetidine decreases renal clearance of nicotine by 47% in
nonsmoking volunteers (Bendayan et al. 1990). This is consistent with the inhibition of
basolateral uptake by cimetidine detected in vitro. Mecamylamine reduces renal clearance of
nicotine in smokers dosed with intravenous nicotine when urine is alkalinized, but not when
urine is acidified (Zevin et al. 2000).
Renal clearance of cotinine is much less than the glomerular filtration rate (Benowitz et al.
2008b). Since cotinine is not appreciably protein bound, this indicates extensive tubular
reabsorption. Renal clearance of cotinine can be enhanced by up to 50% with extreme urinary
acidification. Cotinine excretion is less influenced by urinary pH than nicotine because it is
less basic and, therefore, is primarily in the unionized form within the physiological pH range.
As is the case for nicotine, the rate of excretion of cotinine is influenced by urinary flow rate.
Renal excretion of cotinine is a minor route of elimination, averaging about 12% of total
clearance. In contrast, 100% of nicotine N′-oxide and 63% of 3′-hydroxycotinine are excreted
unchanged in the urine (Benowitz and Jacob 2001; Park et al. 1993).
The genetic contributions to nicotine and cotinine renal clearances have been estimated in a
twin study (Benowitz et al. 2008b). This study found a substantial contribution of genetic
factors to the net secretory/reabsorbtive clearances of nicotine and cotinine. These findings
suggest either that the reabsorption of nicotine and cotinine are active processes and are
influenced by the genetics of reabsorptive transporters, or that the active secretory component
of renal clearance exerts a substantial effect on the clearance, even in the presence of net
reabsorption. It is plausible that the genetic component of the variation in the reabsorbtive
clearance of nicotine is determined by the corresponding variation in reabsorptive transporters.
As mentioned previously, renal failure markedly reduces total renal clearance, as well as
metabolic clearance of nicotine and cotinine (Molander et al. 2000). Reduction of renal
clearance is correlated with the severity of kidney failure; renal clearance is reduced by half
in mild renal failure, and by 94% in severe renal impairment. Markedly elevated levels of serum
nicotine have been detected in smoking patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing
hemodialysis (Perry et al. 1984). This is explained not only by reduced renal clearance, but
also by lower metabolic clearance of nicotine in renal disease. It is speculated that accumulation
of uremic toxins inhibits CYP2A6 activity or downregulates CYP2A6 expression in liver.
8 Nicotine and Cotinine Blood Levels During Tobacco Use and Nicotine
Replacement Therapy
Blood or plasma nicotine concentrations sampled in the afternoon in smokers generally range
from 10 to 50 ng ml−1. Typical trough concentrations during daily smoking range between 10
and 37 ng ml−1 and typical peak concentrations range between 19 and 50 ng ml−1. The
increment in venous blood nicotine concentration after smoking a single cigarette varies from
5 to 30 ng ml−1, depending on how a cigarette is smoked. In a recent study, the mean nicotine
boost after smoking a cigarette was 10.9 ng ml−1 in smokers with no smoking abstinence on
the study day (Patterson et al. 2003).
Blood levels peak at the end of smoking a cigarette and decline rapidly over the next 20 min
due to tissue distribution. The distribution half-life averages about 8 min. Although the rate of
rise of nicotine is slower for cigar smokers and users of snuff and chewing tobacco than for
cigarette smokers, peak venous blood levels of nicotine are similar (Benowitz et al. 1988). Pipe
smokers, particularly those who have previously smoked cigarettes, may have blood and urine
levels of nicotine and cotinine as high as cigarette smokers (McCusker et al. 1982; Wald et al.
1981). Primary pipe smokers who have not previously smoked cigarettes tend to have lower
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nicotine levels. Likewise, cigar smokers who have previously smoked cigarettes may inhale
more deeply and achieve higher blood levels of nicotine than primary cigar smokers, although
on average, based on urinary cotinine levels, daily nicotine intake appears to be less for cigar
smokers compared with cigarette or pipe smokers (Wald et al. 1984).
The plasma half-life of nicotine after intravenous infusion or cigarette smoking averages about
2 h. However, when half-life is determined using the time course of urinary excretion of
nicotine, which is more sensitive in detecting lower levels of nicotine in the body, the terminal
half-life averages 11 h (Jacob et al. 1999). The longer half-life detected at lower concentrations
of nicotine is most likely a consequence of slow release of nicotine from body tissues. Based
on a half-life of 2 h for nicotine, one would predict accumulation over 6–8 h (3–4 half-lives)
of regular smoking and persistence of significant levels for 6–8 h after cessation of smoking.
If a smoker smokes until bedtime, significant levels should persist all night. Studies of blood
levels in regular cigarette smokers confirm these predictions (Benowitz et al. 1982b). Peak and
trough levels follow each cigarette, but as the day progresses, trough levels rise and the
influence of peak levels become less important. Thus, nicotine is not a drug to which smokers
are exposed intermittently and which is eliminated rapidly from the body. On the contrary,
smoking represents a multiple dosing situation with considerable accumulation while smoking
and persistent levels for 24 h of each day.
Plasma levels of nicotine from nicotine replacement therapies tend to be in the range of lowlevel
cigarette smokers. Thus, typical steady-state plasma nicotine concentrations with nicotine
patches range from 10 to 20 ng ml−1, and for nicotine gum, inhaler, sublingual tablet, and nasal
spray from 5 to 15 ng ml−1 (Benowitz et al. 1987; Schneider et al. 2001). Usually ad libitum
use of NRTs results in one-third to two-thirds the concentration of nicotine that is achieved by
cigarette smoking (Schneider et al. 2001). However, users of 4-mg nicotine gum may
sometimes reach or even exceed the nicotine levels associated with smoking (McNabb 1984;
McNabb et al. 1982). For the sake of comparison, systemic doses from various nicotine delivery
systems are as follows: cigarette smoking, 1–1.5 mg per cigarette (Benowitz and Jacob 1984;
Jarvis et al. 2001); nicotine gum, 2 mg for a 4-mg gum (Benowitz et al. 1988); transdermal
nicotine, 5–21 mg per day, depending on the patch; nicotine nasal spray, 0.7 mg per 1-mg dose
of one spray in each nostril (Gourlay and Benowitz 1997; Johansson et al. 1991); nicotine
inhaler, 2 mg for a 4-mg dose released from the 10-mg inhaler (Molander et al. 1996); nicotine
lozenge, 1 mg for a 2-mg lozenge (Choi et al. 2003); oral snuff, 3.6 mg for 2.5 g held in the
mouth for 30 min (Benowitz et al. 1988); and chewing tobacco, 4.5 mg for 7.9 g chewed for
30 min (Benowitz et al. 1988).
Cotinine is present in the blood of smokers in much higher concentrations than those of
nicotine. Cotinine blood concentrations average about 250–300 ng ml−1 in groups of cigarette
smokers. We have seen levels in tobacco users ranging up to 900 ng ml−1. After stopping
smoking, levels decline in a log linear fashion with an average half-life of about 16 h. The halflife
of cotinine derived from nicotine is longer than the half-life of cotinine administered as
cotinine (Zevin et al. 1997). This is caused by slow release of nicotine from tissues. Because
of the long half-life there is much less fluctuation in cotinine concentrations throughout the
day than in nicotine concentrations. As expected, there is a gradual rise in cotinine levels
throughout the day, peaking at the end of smoking and persisting at high concentrations
overnight. Cotinine levels produced by NRTs are usually 30–70% of the levels detected while
smoking (Hurt et al. 1994; Schneider et al. 1995).
9 Biomarkers of Nicotine Exposure
Biomarkers are desirable for quantifying the systemic exposure of smokers to toxic constituents
of smoke derived from tobacco use or from potential reduced harm products. Measures such
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as cigarettes per day are imprecise indicators of tobacco smoke exposure because of variability
in how smokers smoke their cigarettes. There is considerable individual variability in smoke
intake, even by people smoking the same brand of cigarettes (USDHHS 2001). Cigarette design
and how the cigarette is smoked influence toxic exposures. For example, light cigarettes are
smoked on average more intensely than are regular cigarettes. The optimal assessment of
exposure to tobacco smoke would be the analysis of concentrations of chemicals of
pathogenetic concern in body fluids of the exposed individual – termed a biological marker or
biomarker. A variety of biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure have been proposed, as
summarized in Table 2 and reviewed in detail previously (Hatsukami et al. 2003).
This section focuses on the use of nicotine and cotinine and other tobacco alkaloids as
biomarkers of tobacco exposure. Other potential biomarkers of exposure to the particulate or
gas phase of tobacco smoke are described in the review papers cited above.
Nicotine measurement is highly specific for tobacco use or exposure (in the absence of nicotine
medication use), but because of nicotine’s short half-life (2 h) the method is not recommended
for general use. Cotinine is a highly specific and sensitive marker for tobacco use (in the absence
nicotine medication use) and has the advantages of a fairly long half-life (16 h). When NRT
is not being used, cotinine appears to be the best biomarker for tobacco use. When NRT is
used, the minor tobacco alkaloids are useful biomarkers, as described below. A limitation of
using cotinine is that it indicates ongoing exposure but not long-term exposure to tobacco
smoke. Approaches to longer term monitoring include measurement of nicotine in hair or nails,
as discussed below, or measurement of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4(methylnitrosamine)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol
(NNAL) in urine, as described by (Hecht 2003).
9.1 Cotinine as a Biomarker for Intake of Nicotine
The presence of cotinine in biological fluids indicates exposure to nicotine. Because of the
long half-life of cotinine it has been used as a biomarker for daily intake, both in cigarette
smokers and in those exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke (Benowitz 1996). There is a high
correlation among cotinine concentrations measured in plasma, saliva, and urine, and
measurements in any one of these fluids can be used as a marker of nicotine intake. There is,
however, individual variability in the quantitative relationship between steady state cotinine
levels and intake of nicotine. This is because different people convert different percentages of
nicotine to cotinine (usual range 50–90%), and because different people metabolize cotinine
differently at different rates (usual clearance range 20–75 ml min−1) (Benowitz 1996).
The relationship between nicotine intake and steady state cotinine blood levels can be expressed
in the following way, based on steady state exposure conditions: Dnic = CLCOT × CCOT ÷ f,
where Dnic is the intake (dose) of nicotine, CLCOT is the clearance of cotinine, CCOT is the
steady state blood concentration of cotinine and f is the fraction of nicotine converted to
cotinine. On rearranging the equation, Dnic = (CLCOT ÷ f) × CCOT = K × CCOT where K is a
constant that converts a given blood level of cotinine to nicotine intake. On average, K = 0.08
mg 24 h−1 ng−1 ml−1 (range 0.05–1.1, CV = 21.9%). Thus, a cotinine level of 30 ng ml−1 in
blood corresponds on average to a nicotine intake of 24 mg per day.
While cotinine functions fairly well as a marker of nicotine intake, it is not perfect due to
individual variation in metabolism as discussed previously. As described earlier in this chapter,
cotinine metabolism is affected by factors such as race, gender, age, genetic variation in the
liver enzyme CYP2A6, and/or by the presence of pregnancy, liver or kidney disease. Another
limitation to the use of cotinine is that, given an average half-life of 16 h, cotinine levels reflect
relatively short-term exposure to tobacco (that is, over the past 3–4 days).
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9.2 Nicotine and Cotinine in Hair and Nails
The use of hair as a material in which to measure nicotine and cotinine has been proposed as
a way to assess long-term exposure to nicotine from tobacco products. Nicotine and cotinine
are incorporated into hair as it grows over time. The average rate of hair growth is 1 cm per
month. Thus, measurements of levels of nicotine may provide a way of assessing exposure of
a person to nicotine over several months (Al-Delaimy et al. 2002; Florescu et al. 2007).
Potentials problems with the use of hair include a strong influence of hair pigmentation on
nicotine and cotinine binding and uptake (Dehn et al. 2001). Nicotine and cotinine are bound
to melanin. As a result, dark hair binds much more nicotine than does blond or white hair. This
makes comparison across individuals difficult. Also, hair is exposed to nicotine and cotinine
from sweat and from sebaceous gland secretions, and to nicotine from environmental tobacco
smoke exposure. Washing the hair before analysis may reduce this problem of environmental
contamination, but it is not likely to remove all environmental nicotine and cotinine.
Nicotine and cotinine, as well as NNAL, can be measured in nail clippings (Stepanov et al.
2007). Toenail clippings are easy to collect and store and represent cumulative exposure as
nails grow at a rate of about 0.1 cm per month. In a group of smokers, the average toenail
biomarker concentrations were 5.4 ng nicotine and 0.67 ng cotinine per mg toenail. Plasma
levels of nicotine and cotinine were significantly but moderately correlated with toenail levels.
Thus, hair or toenail measurements of nicotine or cotinine (or NNAL) are promising biomarkers
of long-term tobacco exposure.
9.3 Dietary Sources
Dietary sources of nicotine have been alleged to be a potential confounder of cotinine levels
used in measurement of secondhand smoke exposure. Several foods contain small amounts of
nicotine (Siegmund et al. 1999). However, the levels of nicotine in foods are quite low. Based
on nicotine levels in foods and the usual daily consumption of various nicotine-containing
foods, it has been determined that the levels of cotinine produced by even a diet high in nicotinecontaining
foods is lower than that seen in individuals exposed to moderate levels of
secondhand smoke (Benowitz 1996).
9.4 Minor Tobacco Alkaloids
The primary alkaloid in tobacco is nicotine, but tobacco also contains small amounts of minor
alkaloids such as anabasine, anatabine, myosmine, and others. The minor alkaloids are
absorbed systemically and can be measured in the urine of smokers and users of smokeless
tobacco (Jacob et al. 1999). The measurement of minor alkaloids is a way to quantitate tobacco
use when a person is also taking in pure nicotine from a nicotine medication or a nontobacco
nicotine delivery system. This method has been used to assess tobacco abstinence in clinical
trials of smoking cessation with treatment by nicotine medications (Jacob et al. 2002).
9.5 Optimal Cotinine Cut-Points to Distinguish Tobacco Use From No Tobacco Use
Based on the work of Jarvis and coworkers, who measured cotinine levels in individuals
attending outpatient clinics in the United Kingdom in the early 1980s, an optimal plasma or
saliva cotinine cut-point of 15 ng ml−1 or a urine cotinine of 50 ng ml−1 were determined to
discriminate smokers from nonsmokers (some of whom are exposed to secondhand smoke)
(Benowitz et al. 2002a). The optimal cut-point depends on the smoking behavior of the smokers
and the magnitude of exposure to secondhand smoke. Data from the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 1999 to 2004 were recently analyzed to assess
the optimal serum cotinine in the US population at present (Benowitz et al. 2008a). Using
receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cotinine cut-points were 3.08 ng
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ml−1 for adults (sensitivity 96.3%, specificity 97.4%) and 2.99 ng ml−1 for adolescents
(sensitivity 86.5%, specificity 93.1%). The decline in the optimal cut-point since 1980 is likely
due to the marked reduction in secondhand smoke exposure in the general US population. Of
note is that the cut-points are much lower for Mexican Americans than for whites or African
Americans, most likely due to both more occasional smoking and lower exposure to
secondhand smoke.
Acknowledgments
We thank Marc Olmsted for his excellent editorial assistance. Much of the research described in this chapter was
supported by US Public Health Service grants DA02277 and DA12393 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
National Institutes of Health, and carried out at the General Clinical Research Center at San Francisco General Hospital
Medical Center with support of the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health (RR-00083).
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Fig. 1.
Structures of tobacco alkaloids. Reprinted from Benowitz and Jacob (1998) with permission
of Wiley-Liss, a subsidiary of Wiley
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Fig. 2.
Blood nicotine concentrations during and after cigarette smoking for 9 min, oral snuff (2.5 g),
chewing tobacco (average 7.9 g), and nicotine gum (two 2-mg pieces). Average values for 10
subjects (±SEM). Reprinted from Benowitz et al. (1988) with permission from American
Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
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Fig. 3.
Pathways of nicotine metabolism. Reprinted with permission from Hukkanen et al. 2005c
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Fig. 4.
Quantitative scheme of nicotine metabolism, based on estimates of average excretion of
metabolites as percent of total urinary nicotine. Reprinted with permission from Hukkanen et
al. 2005c
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Table 1
Nicotine absorption pharmacokinetics of different forms of nicotine administration in single doses (modified
from Hukkanen et al. 2005c)
Type of nicotine administrationa Cmax
b ng ml−1 Tmax
b,c min Bioavailability %
Smoking (one cigarette, 5 min) (~2 mg/cigaretted) 15–30 (venous) 5–8 (venous) 80–90 (of inhaled nicotine)
20–60 (arterial) 3–5 (arterial)
Intravenous ~5.1 mg (60 μg/kg, 30 min) 30 (venous) 30 (venous) 100
50 (arterial) 30 (arterial)
Nasal spray 1 mg 5–8 (venous) 11–18 (venous) 60–80
10–15 (arterial) 4–6 (arterial)
Gum (30 min, total dose in gum)
2 mg 6–9 30 78
4 mg 10–17 30 55
Inhaler 4 mg released (one 10 mg cartridge, 20 min) 8.1 30 51–56
Lozenge (20–30 min)
2 mg 4.4 60 50
4 mg 10.8 66 79
Sublingual tablet 2 mg (20–30 min) 3.8 ~60 65
Tooth patch 2 mg ~3.2 ~120
Transdermal patch (labeled dose)
15 mg/16 h (Nicotrol) 11–14 6–9 h 75–100
14 mg/24 h (Nicoderm) 11–16 4–7 h
21 mg/24 h (Nicoderm) 18–23 3–7 h 68
21 mg/24 h (Habitrol) 12–21 9–12 h 82
Subcutaneous injection 2.4 mg 15 25 100
Oral capsule 3–4 mg 6–8 90 44
Oral slow-release capsule (colonic absorption) 6 mg 2.2 7.5 h
Oral solution
2 mg 4.7 51
~3.0 mg (45 μg/kg) 2.9 66 20
Enema
~3.5 mg (45 μg/kg) 2.3–3.1 20–80 15–25
6 mg 6–9 45
a
Products in italics are currently marketed in the United States
b
Cmax and Tmax values are for peripheral venous blood unless otherwise indicated
c
Tmax values are measured from the start of the administration
d
Estimated dose of 2 mg of nicotine per cigarette is higher than the usual 1–1.5 mg per cigarette since nicotine absorption from smoking a single
cigarette was studied after at least overnight abstinence from smoking in these studies
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Table2
Biomarkersoftobaccoexposure
BiomarkerPrecursorSpeciment½TobaccospecificOthersources
Nicotine*NicotineBlood,urine,saliva,hair1–2hYesNicotinereplacementproducts
Cotinine*NicotineBlood,urine,saliva,hair16–18hYesNicotinereplacementproducts
Anatabine*AnatabineUrine10–16hYesNone
NNAL,NNAL-glucuronidesNNK(TSNA)Blood,urine6weekYesNone
ExhaledCOCarbonmonoxideExhaledair2–6hNoTraffic,bodyformation
CarboxyhemoglobincarbonmonoxideBlood4–6hNoTraffic,bodyformation
1-Hydroxypyreneandotherpolycyclicaromatic
hydrocarbon(PAH)metabolites
PAHsUrine20hNoTraffic,grilledmeat,occupation,biomasscombustionin
homes
Mercopturicacidmetabolites1,3-ButadieneUrine–NoTraffic,combustionproducts
MercopturicacidmetabolitesAcroleinUrine–NoTraffic,combustionproducts
AcetonitrileAcetonitrileUrine,blood,exhaledair32hNoNone
S-Phenyl-mercapturicacidBenzeneUrine9hNoTraffic,combustionproducts
ThiocyanateHydrogencyanideSerum,saliva,urine7–14daysNoDiet
NNAL4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol;NNAL-gluc4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanolglucuronide;NNK4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone;TSNAtobacco-specific
nitrosamines;PAHpolycylcicaromatichydrocarbons
Instudiesofsmokingcessation,anatabineisrecommendedasnicotinereplacementtherapieswillleadtothepresenceofnicotineandcotininewithoutanytobaccoexposure
Handb Exp Pharmacol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 October 13.