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The results of the first clinical trial of electronic cigarettes, reported yesterday in the journal BMC Public Health, suggest that these devices may be more effective than traditional NRT products for smoking cessation and may be particularly effective in smokers who are unmotivated to quit.
(see: Polosa R, et al. Effect of an Electronic Nicotine Delivery Device [e-Cigarette] on Smoking Reduction and Cessation: A Prospective 6-Month Pilot Study. BMC Public Health 2011; 11:786 doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-786)
The subjects were 40 healthy, adult, regular smokers with no interest in quitting. They were provided with electronic cigarettes and minimal intervention (a baseline and four follow-up clinic visits). They were not instructed to try to quit smoking, but were simply allowed to use the electronic cigarettes however they wished.
The sustained smoking abstinence rate at six-month follow-up was 22.5%.
The proportion of subjects who experienced a sustained reduction in the amount smoked by at least 50% was 32.5%.
Thus, 55% of subjects either cut down their consumption by 50% or more or quit smoking altogether at six months follow-up.
No serious adverse events were reported in the study.
The authors conclude: "Although not formally regulated as a pharmaceutical product, the e-Cigarette can help smokers to remain abstinent or reduce their cigarette consumption. By replacing tobacco cigarettes, the e-cigarette can only save lives. Here we show for the first time that e-Cigarettes can substantially decrease cigarette consumption without causing significant side effects in smokers not intending to quit."