Researchers have demonstrated a practical approach for treating nicotine dependence. Currently Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) - nicotine patches or lozenges - relies on providing additional nicotine to the body. Researchers have now turned to nicotine’s oxidative metabolite, cotinine. Using ascorbic acid as a potential reducing agent, they converted cotinine in smokers’ plasma back to nicotine, targeting both nicotine addiction and detoxification simultaneously.
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Publishing the results of their study, Recirculating bioavailable nicotine metabolite using ascorbic acid : A pragmatic approach to treating nicotine dependence, a team of researchers from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, have developed a dissolvable film containing Vitamin C that a smoker places on the tongue whenever tempted to smoke. Ascorbic acid in a specified dose (Vitamin C) converts cotinine back to nicotine within the smokers’ plasma, they claim.
