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. 2020 Nov 1:216:108210.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108210. Epub 2020 Aug 5.

A prospective study of the association between rate of nicotine metabolism and alcohol use in tobacco users in the United States

Walter Roberts  1 , Phillip L Marotta  2 , Terril L Verplaetse  2 , MacKenzie R Peltier  3 , Catherine Burke  2 , Vijay A Ramchandani  4 , Sherry A McKee  2
Affiliations

A prospective study of the association between rate of nicotine metabolism and alcohol use in tobacco users in the United States

Walter Roberts et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Background: Rate of nicotine metabolism has been identified as a biochemical risk factor for nicotine use and dependence; however, its role in alcohol consumption and related outcomes is not well understood. The current research examined nicotine metabolism rate as a risk factor for alcohol use among current tobacco users. We also examined sex differences in these associations.

Method: Data were taken from Waves 1 and 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a national longitudinal study of tobacco use and associated health outcomes. The nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR) was calculated as the ratio of trans-3' hydroxycotinine to cotinine in urine samples provided at wave 1. Alcohol use outcomes included past 30-day NIAAA-defined hazardous drinking status, total drinks, and alcohol-related consequences. All analyses controlled for alcohol use at Wave 1.

Results: NMR at Wave 1 predicted increased odds of meeting hazardous drinking criteria, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.14, 95 % CI = 1.06; 1.23, p = 0.001, greater total alcohol consumption amount, adjusted rate ratio (aRR) = 1.21, 95 % CI = 1.12; 1.30, p < 0.001, and more alcohol consequences, aRR = 1.07, 95 % CI = 1.01; 1.13, p = 0.018, at wave 2. No significant sex differences were identified. NMR remained a significant predictor of alcohol use in models controlling for severity of nicotine exposure in cigarette smokers.

Conclusions: NMR may be a shared risk factor for harmful nicotine and alcohol use that contributes to their co-occurrence.

Keywords: Alcohol use; Nicotine metabolite ratio; Risk factors; Tobacco use.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interests: Nothing declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Weighted distribution of nicotine metabolite ratio (log transformed)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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