- University Park, Pa. - In
a small study conducted at Penn State, researchers have shown, for the
first time, that heavy or moderate smokers who stop smoking have symptoms
similar to those experienced by patients undergoing an inflammatory
response
suggesting that anti-inflammatory medication might ease some nicotine
withdrawal
woes.
-
- Dr. Elizabeth Corwin, assistant professor in the school
of nursing and the Intercollege Physiology Program, says, "Our
research
shows that nicotine withdrawal is a significant physical as well as
psychological
stressor that impacts multiple systems of the body, including the immune
system. If we can relieve some negative symptoms including depression by
reducing the inflammatory response, we may be able to increase the
likelihood
that heavy or moderate smokers can successfully quit."
-
- The study, which was conducted by Corwin and Dr. Laura
Klein, assistant professor of biobehavioral health, was presented (today)
Feb. 21, by Klein in a poster at the meeting of the Society for Research
in Nicotine and Tobacco in Savannah, Georgia. The poster is titled,
"Sickness
Behavior and Cytokine Responses in Subjects During Withdrawal from
Nicotine."
-
- Klein explains that smokers often fail multiple attempts
to quit, in part, because of the unpleasant symptoms that accompany
nicotine
withdrawal, including depression, fatigue, muscle aches and appetite
changes.
Similar unpleasant symptoms accompany acute and chronic illness and these
symptoms are known to result from elevated levels of cytokines, which are
produced by white blood cells in response to inflammation. The two Penn
State researchers decided to see if cytokines could also be linked to the
same symptoms in smokers who stop smoking.
-
- Blood samples from 20 heavy or moderate smokers, ages
18 to 35, were taken while they were smoking freely and after they had
stopped smoking for 24 hours. Blood samples were also taken from 22
non-smokers
for comparison. The same groups of smokers and non-smokers also completed
questionnaires to gauge their fatigue, depression, muscle aches and
appetite.
-
- Analysis of the symptom self-reports showed that
depression,
muscle aches and appetite all increased in smokers during nicotine
withdrawal.
Although fatigue did not increase significantly with nicotine withdrawal,
smoker's fatigue scores were already higher at the start of the study when
compared to non-smokers.
-
- Analysis of the blood samples showed that the levels
of two cytokines, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b) and interleukin-6 (IL-6),
along with fatigue, in smokers predicted depression on nicotine withdrawal.
Changes in the production of IL-6 were associated with muscle aches and
increased appetite when smoking was stopped. There were no differences
in men's and women's responses.
-
- Corwin says, "The results support the hypothesis
that smokers who stop smoking may experience depression, fatigue, muscle
aches and appetite changes for similar biochemical reasons that individuals
who have acute or chronic disease do. The same therapies anti-inflammatory
medications may therefore help alleviate these symptoms."
-
- Further studies are needed to find out which particular
anti-inflammatory drugs or specific pro-inflammatory blocking agents might
best reduce the unpleasant symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and support
smokers while they quit. Corwin and Klein are planning such studies.
-
- Note: This story has been
adapted from a news release issued by Penn State for journalists and other
members of the public. If you wish to quote from any part of this story,
please credit Penn State as the original source. You may also wish to
include
the following link in any citation: http://www.
sciencedaily.com
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