This study will focus on examining the potential impact of menthol flavoring in cigarettes on biomarkers of systemic inflammation as a subclinical indicator of cardiovascular disease risk.
The goal of this study is to examine how switching from menthol (MC) to non-menthol (NMC) cigarette smoking may impact biomarkers of systemic inflammation, smoking behavior, and subjective responses related to smoking. MC smokers (N=68) will be recruited for a five-week study, with one-week of baseline of MC smoking (Phase 1), followed by four weeks of switching to study-provided, brand-matched NMCs (Phase 2). Biomarkers of systemic inflammation and tobacco exposure will be analyzed from blood samples before, during, and after switching for four weeks (baseline, week 1, week 3, and week 5). Ecological momentary assessment methods will also be gathered to measure patterns of smoking and smoking-related subjective responses (affect, craving).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
68
Participants will be switched from smoking menthol cigarettes to non-menthol cigarettes for a period of four weeks
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
North Chicago, Illinois, United States
RECRUITINGhigh sensitivity C-reactive protein
from serum in mg/dL
Time frame: 4 weeks
Fibrinogen
from serum in mg/dL
Time frame: 4 weeks
Cytokine Panel 13
from serum in mg/dL
Time frame: 4 weeks
Blood pressure
systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, in mm Hg
Time frame: 4 weeks
Heart rate
beats per minute
Time frame: 4 weeks
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