Impact of Sweeteners on the Addictive Threshold of Nicotine
Yale University
Summary
To determine if sucralose, an artificial sweetener, modulates nicotine threshold doses for discrimination, subjective-rewarding effects, and reinforcement in smokers with varying levels of dependence.
Description
Participants will complete an Adaptation Session followed by four Test Days. The Adaptation Session will familiarize participants with all study procedures. On each Test Day, a specific intravenous nicotine dose (0.05 or 0.1 mg/pulse) is paired with either a sucralose or control flavor administered by an electronic cigarette. The experimental procedure begins with a sampling phase comparing the assigned nicotine dose against saline, each paired with the assigned flavor, followed by four trials to assess the participant's ability to discriminate between the two conditions. Subsequently, partici…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21–59 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Smoking at least for one year and more frequently than once a week, smoking status confirmed with a semi-quantitative urine nicotine test. Smokers will be stratified by level of dependence, assessed with the FTND 29 low or no dependence ≤3 and moderate or high dependence ≥ 4. * In good health as verified by medical history, screening examination, and screening laboratory tests. * For women, report using acceptable birth control methods. Exclusion Criteria: * History of major medical or psychiatric disorders that the physician investigator deems as contraindicated for t…
Interventions
- DrugNicotine 0.05 mg/pulse and 0.1 mg/pulse
Nicotine will be used and compared to saline given by IV push by study physician
- DrugSaline Placebo (0.5mL injection)
Saline will be used compared to the low dose of Nicotine given by IV push by study physician
- Dietary Supplementsucralose
sweet flavor (sucralose) compared to unsweetened flavor
- Dietary SupplementSugar syrup (Placebo)
Unsweetened flavor compared to the sweetened flavor sucralose.
Location
- VA HospitalWest Haven, Connecticut