Acute Oral Effects of Heated Tobacco Products

Acute Oral Effects of Heated Tobacco Products Compared to Traditional Cigarettes

Heated tobacco products (HTP) are devices which heat, but not burn tobacco. They do not produce cigarette smoke but rather an aerosol. HTPs are marketed as less harmful alternatives to smoking. Use and awareness of these devices have grown exponentially in recent years, with probably millions of people currently using them. There is very little literature about them, so it is quite important to study the effects caused on the human body by these products.

The benefits and risks of HTP use are uncertain. There is no research on the acute oral effects of HTPs in the scientific literature.

Measurements of acute oral effects before and after using HTP with bland flavour (HEETS Bronze Selection), with methol flavour (HEETS Blue Selection), conventional cigarette and placebo device:

measurement of exhaled CO changes by Smokerlyzer piCO measurement of oral mucosal blood flow changes by Perilam PSI System High Resolution (LASCA method) measurement of blood pressure and pulse by an automatic blood pressure monitor (Omron M2, Omron Healthcare Inc., Kyoto, Japan)

Inclusion Criteria:

• age: 18-49 years
• signed consent form
• smoking regularly heated tobacco product and/or conventional cigarette for > half year

Exclusion Criteria:

• not pregnant and not planning pregnancy in the next 6 month BMI index < 30
• no severe parodontal disease
• no acute illness in the last 2 weeks
• no chronic disease (eg.: diabetes)