# Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes in Vulnerable Populations:  Pregnant Women

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · 2021 · $354,683

## Abstract

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy continues to represent a serious public health problem. Approximately
11% of U.S. women (~17 million women) are smokers when they become pregnant, with prevalence as high
as 40% among socioeconomically disadvantaged women. Smoking during pregnancy can cause catastrophic
pregnancy complications and adverse effects on fetal development that a growing body of evidence suggests
can compromise health throughout the lifespan. A national policy of reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes
has the potential to be an effective method of reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking and smoking-
related adverse health outcomes in this highly vulnerable population. Controlled trials in the general population
of smokers, for example, have demonstrated that reduced nicotine content cigarettes decrease cigarette
smoking rates, dependence, and toxin exposure levels. Furthermore, our research during the current funding
period indicates that socioeconomically disadvantaged non-pregnant women, and other groups vulnerable to
persistent tobacco use (smokers with opioid use disorders or affective disorders), also respond to reduced
nicotine content of cigarettes with reductions in cigarette demand and other measures of addiction potential.
Importantly, there is no evidence of untoward nicotine withdrawal or compensatory smoking associated with
use of reduced nicotine content cigarettes in these populations, which is important when considering their use
among pregnant women. We know of no empirical information in the literature on the effects of reduced
nicotine content cigarettes in pregnant women, although they would be expected to reap the same benefits as
non-pregnant women with regard to reduced smoking rates and lower dependence severity, along with
additional potential benefits to the fetus from reduced nicotine exposure. For those reasons, we are currently
conducting a multi-site study examining acute effects of reduced nicotine content cigarettes on the addiction
potential of smoking in pregnant women using a protocol similar to the one we used with the non-pregnant
women. The proposed multi-site trial will further this important line of research by examining extended
exposure. Pregnant smokers will be randomized to smoke either usual brand cigarettes or very low nicotine
content cigarettes (0.4 mg nicotine/g tobacco) for 12 weeks. Patterns of cigarette and other tobacco use,
cigarette demand, dependence, biomarkers of toxicant exposure, and sonographic assessments of fetal
growth and body composition will be examined. Overall, the proposed research aligns well with CTP's interest
in supporting research under the integrative theme of Vulnerable Populations and the scientific domains of
Addiction and Behavior, as well as Health Effects. The research is significant an innovative by attempting
to model how a national policy of reduced nicotine standards in cigarettes may impact a highly vulnerable
population of smokers, and pr...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10247030
- **Project number:** 5U54DA036114-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah H Heil
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $354,683
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-09-30 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10247030

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10247030, Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes in Vulnerable Populations:  Pregnant Women (5U54DA036114-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10247030. Licensed CC0.

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