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Assessing acute nicotine impact on choroidal thickness: a randomized, double-blinded study comparing smoking cessation aids, including nicotine gum and electronic cigarettes

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Abstract

Purpose

To explore whether differences in choroidal thickness arise from nicotine consumption in healthy young individuals, specifically comparing the effects of nicotine gum to electronic cigarette (vaping), while maintaining a consistent 4 mg nicotine dosage.

Methods

In a randomized double-blinded prospective cross-sectional study, 20 healthy participants (mean age ± standard deviation: 23 ± 2.36 years) were randomly assigned to either the nicotine gum or vaping group. Choroidal thickness (ChT) measurements were conducted using optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Topcon 3D OCT-1 Maestro System) at baseline, 30, and 60 min after ingesting 4 mg of nicotine, with ChT measurements taken from five different horizontal areas.

Results

Neither the nicotine delivery method (gum or vaping) demonstrated a statistically significant impact on ChT mean scores among subjects in the five measured areas at baseline, 30, and 60 min (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in ChT mean scores within subjects across the five areas (F (1.83, 72) = 36.43, p < 0.001), regardless of other study factors such as group, time, and visit (p > 0.05). A statistically significant interaction was identified between the factors of area and time concerning participants' ChT mean scores when stratified by the type of smoking (tobacco, vaping, and dual) (p = 0.003).

Conclusion

The results of this study revealed that nicotine, up to particular concentration of 4 mg, does not have a statistically significant vasoconstrictive effect on choroidal thickness, regardless of the delivery method, within the examined group. These findings offer valuable insights into the relationship between nicotine intake and choroidal dynamics in young adults.

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the researchers supporting project, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Optometry Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, King Abdullah Road, 4545, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammed Alhazmi, Wafa Alotaibi, Saud Almansour, Sadeem Alotaibi, Muteb Alanazi & Mohammed Althomali

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  1. Mohammed Alhazmi
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Contributions

The experimental conception and design were formulated by MA and WA, while SA and SA executed the experiments. MA, WA, MA, and MA were involved in the data analysis, with all authors contributing to data interpretation. The initial draft of the manuscript was prepared by MA and WA, and all authors contributed substantially to critical input and revisions. The final manuscript was reviewed and approved by all authors.

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Correspondence to Mohammed Alhazmi.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board at King Saud University, (approval number: E-22–7313) and the study was conducted according to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to beginning the study.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. The authors confirm that individuals participating in the human research study gave their informed consent for the publication of the image depicted in Fig. 1.

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Alhazmi, M., Alotaibi, W., Almansour, S. et al. Assessing acute nicotine impact on choroidal thickness: a randomized, double-blinded study comparing smoking cessation aids, including nicotine gum and electronic cigarettes. Int Ophthalmol 44, 199 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-024-03137-2

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