Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers in Smokers and Moist Snuff Consumers

February 15, 2016 updated by: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Evaluation of Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers in Exclusive Smokers and Exclusive Moist Snuff Consumers

This cross-sectional study was primarily a cardiovascular disease (CVD) study designed a) to compare selected CVD biomarker data between subjects who were long-term consumers of cigarettes or moist snuff and non-consumers of tobacco and b) to identify principal endpoints related to CVD risk that differed among the three tobacco-use cohorts. The following assessments provided the primary study endpoints for comparative analyses between the cohorts:

  1. CVD-related physiological assessments: Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), ankle-brachial index (ABI), spirometry and expired carbon monoxide (ECO).
  2. CVD-related biomarker assessments in blood and urine (biomarkers of tobacco effect).
  3. Biomarkers of tobacco exposure in urine and blood.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This single site, observational study will provide an increased understanding of how consumption of different tobacco products (i.e., cigarettes and moist snuff compared to no tobacco use) affects 1) CVD-related physiological assessments and 2) CVD-related biomarkers of tobacco effect (i.e., proteins, lipids, and cellular components). A recent policy statement from the American Heart Association provides a review and analysis of the impact of smokeless (ST) use on cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Piano et al. 2010). The authors acknowledge that the evidence is consistent with the suggestion that the cardiovascular risks from ST products are markedly lower than those from cigarette smoking. Despite the potential risk reduction in transitioning from cigarettes to ST consumption, few studies have directly compared biomarkers of tobacco effect (BioEff) among smokers, moist snuff consumers (MSC) and non-tobacco consumers (NTC).

Furthermore, this study will measure biomarkers of tobacco exposure to assess their ability to differentiate the three tobacco consumer groups (smokers, moist snuff consumers, non-tobacco consumers) based on product use. Estimating exposures to combustion-related compounds found in tobacco smoke is best accomplished using biomarkers. A key advantage of human exposure biomarkers is that they are considered reliable metrics of the levels of exposure that consumers actually experience when using tobacco products (Hecht et al., 2010). Because combustion does not occur during ST use, ST products lack most of the combustion-related compounds found in tobacco smoke. Biomarker differences found between different tobacco use groups to harmful or potentially harmful constituents may indicate differences in subsequent health risks (Rodu and Godshall, 2006; Hatsukami et al., 2006).

Epidemiological data demonstrate that the health risks associated with cigarettes are significantly greater than those associated with the use of non-combustible tobacco and nicotine products (Surgeon General, 2010). On a relative risk continuum, cigarette smoking presents a significantly greater risk to tobacco users than use of non-combustible smokeless products. ST products, which are consumed orally, do no generate chemicals associated with the burning of tobacco, and thus, present a reduced toxicant profile compared to smoking.

To address the purpose and objectives of this study, the study was conducted as follows:

  • Subjects were consented for the study prior to any procedures being performed and screened on study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria to determine subject eligibility (within 28 days of study check-in).
  • Eligible subjects were admitted to the clinical research unit between 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. on Day 1 and confined for one overnight stay (approximately 18-23 hours).
  • After all study procedures were completed on Day 1 and Day 2, appropriate basic safety assessments were made and subjects were discharged approximately at 12:00 noon on Day 2.

A brief description of the study procedures performed is listed below.

  • After check-in on Day 1, eligible subjects observed a 45-minute tobacco abstention period, followed by use of a single unit of their usual brand (UB) tobacco product, referred to as a "Challenge." For smokers, the "challenge" was smoking one UB cigarette in their usual manner; for moist snuff consumers, a 30-minute use of one typical pinch of their UB moist snuff.
  • Fifteen minutes after the end of UB use, the following procedures were performed sequentially: ECO; blood samples for biomarkers of exposure (serum nicotine and cotinine, percent carboxyhemoglobin in whole blood); and ABI.
  • At 30 minutes post-UB use, FMD was measured followed by administration of health-related questionnaires. The non-tobacco consumers had no product "Challenge". The completion of study questionnaires served as the reference point for collection of ECO, ABI and FMD.
  • Blood biomarkers of tobacco exposure were collected on Day 1 following product "Challenge" and on Day 2 following an overnight tobacco abstention and fast.
  • Urine biomarkers of tobacco exposure and effect were collected on both Day 1 post-"Challenge" and on Day 2 fasting.
  • Blood biomarkers of tobacco effect were only collected on Day 2 fasting, followed by the re-assessment of the physiological measures (ECO, ABI, FMD) and assessment of CIMT.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

168

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Nebraska
      • Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68502
        • MDS Pharma Services (US), Inc. (Currently Celerion)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

26 years to 49 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects were selected from a community sample of male smokers, moist snuff consumers and non-tobacco consumers. Target enrollment was 60 subjects/cohort (N=180).

The age-stratification for each of the three cohorts was as follows:

  • Ages 26 to 31: n=15
  • Ages 32 to 37: n=15
  • Ages 38 to 43: n=15
  • Ages 44 to 49: n=15

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Smokers: exclusive FF (full flavor; > 13.0 mg FTC "tar" ) or FFLT (full flavor, low "tar" [6.0 to 13.0 mg FTC "tar"]) smokers who reported smoking at least 15 cigarettes daily for at least three years prior to Day 1 and whose ECO was 10 to 100 ppm (ranges of 2 to 9 ppm and 101 to 125 ppm were allowed upon joint review by the Sponsor and Investigator).
  • Moist Snuff Consumers: exclusive oral smokeless tobacco users of any brand (Copenhagen, Skoal, Grizzly, Kodiak, Timber Wolf, Longhorn, Red Man, Levi Garrett, Beech-Nut, Chattanooga Chew, Kayak, etc.), any style (snuff cut, long cut, fine cut, pouch, loose, or plug) and any flavor (natural, straight, mint, wintergreen, etc.) who reported using at least two cans or packages per week for at least three years prior to Day 1 and whose ECO was 0 to 5 ppm (a range of 6 to 10 ppm was allowed upon joint review by the Sponsor and Investigator).
  • Non-tobacco Consumers: never-smokers/never-ST users whose ECO was 0 to 5 ppm (a range of 6 to 10 ppm was allowed upon joint review by the Sponsor and Investigator).
  • Male, between 26 and 49 years of age, inclusive (on Day 1 check-in).
  • Free of clinically significant health problems in the opinion of the Investigator.
  • Forced expiratory volume exhaled in one second (FEV1) ≥70% of predicted at Screening.
  • Willing to undergo all study procedures during confinement.
  • Not taking medication on a daily basis for chronic medical disorders deemed clinically significant by the Investigator.
  • Willing to suspend usage of daily aspirin or over-the-counter (OTC) medication seven days prior to Day 1.
  • Not taking any creatine supplements.
  • Negative tests for selected drugs of abuse and alcohol at Screening and at Day 1 check-in.
  • Able to read and comprehend questionnaires in English.
  • Able to comprehend and willing to sign an Informed Consent Form (ICF).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • At Screening, a BP that exceeds 140/90.
  • <70% predicted FEV1 from three acceptable maneuvers.
  • Unwilling to have the FMD procedure performed two or more times during confinement.
  • Unwilling to have the ABI procedure performed two times during confinement.
  • For the FMD determination, poor brachial artery visualization due to extremely deep position or severe artifacts (noise) due to overlying muscle that, in the sonographer(s)' opinion, would result in an inferior, unreadable or unobtainable brachial artery image.
  • A donation of blood from 30 days prior to Screening through Day 1, inclusive, or of plasma from two weeks prior to Screening through Day 1, inclusive.
  • Receipt of blood products within two months prior to Day 1 check-in.
  • Evidence of visible oral cancer, as found in an oral health examination at Screening or based on oral health questions at Day 1 check-in.
  • Subject who is an employee of the clinical site.
  • Subject who has participated in any other investigational study drug or product trial in which receipt of an investigational study drug or product occurred within 30 days prior to Day 1 check-in, inclusive.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Exclusive cigarette smokers (SMK)
Subject's usual brand (UB) of cigarettes
Other: Subject's usual brand (UB) tobacco product
For SMK: UB of cigarettes; For MSC: UB of moist snuff
Exclusive moist snuff consumers (MSC)
Subject's usual brand (UB) of moist snuff
Other: Subject's usual brand (UB) tobacco product
For SMK: UB of cigarettes; For MSC: UB of moist snuff
Non-tobacco consumers (NTC)
No use of tobacco or nicotine-containing products of any kind

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI-C)
Time Frame: Afternoon of Day 1, ~15 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge"

Non-invasive "functional" technique based on differential leg-arm blood pressure; aids in diagnosis of peripheral artery disease.

Comparison of ABI-C among the three cohorts.
Afternoon of Day 1, ~15 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge"
Flow-mediated Dilation (FMD-C)
Time Frame: Afternoon of Day 1, ~30 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge" and following ABI-C

Non-invasive "functional" imaging technique to evaluate vascular tone of the brachial artery; indicator of individual's overall cardiovascular health.

Comparison of FMD-C among the three cohorts.
Afternoon of Day 1, ~30 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge" and following ABI-C
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI-F)
Time Frame: Morning of Day 2 (fasting) measured immediately after vitals were obtained

Non-invasive "functional" technique based on differential leg-arm blood pressure; aids in diagnosis of peripheral artery disease.

Comparison of ABI-F among the three cohorts.
Morning of Day 2 (fasting) measured immediately after vitals were obtained
Flow-mediated Dilation (FMD-F)
Time Frame: Morning of Day 2 (fasting) measured immediately after ABI was obtained

Non-invasive "functional" imaging technique to evaluate vascular tone of the brachial artery; indicator of individual's overall cardiovascular health.

Comparison of FMD-F among the three cohorts.
Morning of Day 2 (fasting) measured immediately after ABI was obtained
Carotid Intima-media Thickness (CIMT-F)
Time Frame: Morning of Day 2 (fasting) immediately after FMD was obtained

Non-invasive "morphological" imaging technique used to measure the thickness of the intima-media region of the carotid artery to detect presence/absence of atherosclerotic plaques.

Comparison of CIMT-F among the three cohorts.
Morning of Day 2 (fasting) immediately after FMD was obtained
Urine Biomarkers of Tobacco Effect (EffBio[U]-C)
Time Frame: Afternoon of Day 1, ~15 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge"
Comparison of select CVD-related blood biomarkers among the three cohorts.
Afternoon of Day 1, ~15 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge"
Urine Biomarkers of Tobacco Effect (EffBio[U]-F)
Time Frame: Morning of Day 2 (fasting) from the first morning void collection
Comparison of select CVD-related urine biomarkers among the three cohorts.
Morning of Day 2 (fasting) from the first morning void collection
Blood Biomarkers of Tobacco Effect (EffBio[B]-F)
Time Frame: Morning of Day 2 (fasting) after first morning void was obtained
Comparison of select CVD-related urine biomarkers among the three cohorts.
Morning of Day 2 (fasting) after first morning void was obtained
Urine Biomarkers of Tobacco Exposure (ExpBio[U]-C)
Time Frame: Afternoon of Day 1, ~15 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge"
Comparison of tobacco-specific and tobacco-related blood biomarkers among the three cohorts.
Afternoon of Day 1, ~15 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge"
Blood Biomarkers of Tobacco Exposure (ExpBio[B]-C)
Time Frame: Afternoon of Day 1, ~15 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge" and following the urine collection
Comparison of tobacco-specific and tobacco-related blood biomarkers among the three cohorts.
Afternoon of Day 1, ~15 minutes after completion of a "tobacco product challenge" and following the urine collection
Urine Biomarkers of Tobacco Exposure (ExpBio[U]-F)
Time Frame: Morning of Day 2 (fasting) from the first morning void collection
Comparison of tobacco-specific and tobacco-related blood biomarkers among the three cohorts.
Morning of Day 2 (fasting) from the first morning void collection
Blood Biomarkers of Tobacco Exposure (ExpBio[B]-F)
Time Frame: Morning of Day 2 (fasting) after first morning void was obtained
Comparison of tobacco-specific and tobacco-related blood biomarkers among the three cohorts.
Morning of Day 2 (fasting) after first morning void was obtained

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Health status scores from self-administered questionnaires on health, nicotine dependence and diet
Time Frame: All questionnaires: Administered once on evening of Day 1
Comparison of the self-reported health status measures between the three cohorts
All questionnaires: Administered once on evening of Day 1

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Buccal cells
Time Frame: Day 2 (fasting)
Determination of the feasibility and utility of using buccal cells to distinguish DNA methylation and gene expression differences (conducted as a post-hoc evaluation)
Day 2 (fasting)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Collaborators

BioClinica, Inc.
Analytisch-biologisches Forschungslabor GmbH
Pacific Biomarkers
MDS Pharma Services
Rules-Based Medicine, Inc.

Investigators

  • Study Director: David L Heavner, MS, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
  • Principal Investigator: Buddy G Brown, MS, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
  • Principal Investigator: Bobbette A Jones, DrPH, CCRP, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 13, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 20, 2012

First Posted (Estimate)

September 25, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

February 17, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 15, 2016

Last Verified

February 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • RJRT-CSD0806

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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