Importance of Nicotine Metabolism in Understanding the Human Biology of Nicotine

Summary

Consideration of pharmacokinetic and metabolic processes is essential to our understanding of the effects of nicotine and tobacco in people. Metabolic studies indicate rapid metabolism, which explains low oral bioavailability and physiological influence such as food on the rate of nicotine metabolism. Individual variability in rate of metabolism may explain in part individual differences in tobacco consumption and/or adverse effects of tobacco use. Some metabolites of nicotine, such as nicotine Δ-l′-(5′)-iminium ion, beta-nicotyrine, cotinine or nornicotine, may have pharmacologic activities that could contribute to the effects of nicotine. Studies of nicotine metabolism also provide a basis for biochemical assessment of nicotine exposure from tobacco or environmental tobacco smoke.