Preclinical Evidence of the Effects of Sweet Flavors: Sweetness Increases Nicotine Intake and Seeking

Our study highlights the importance of how sweetness can contribute to and possibly even alter the effects of the flavor itself. The sweetness of a tobacco product does not solely stem from sweeteners, but it is also influenced by other components such as the propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) ratio (eg, higher VG) and the inclusion of flavors associated with sweetness (eg, vanillin and ethyl maltol). Therefore, sweet-associated constituents in tobacco products should be investigated further to inform regulatory policy. We believe that our findings can inform regulatory decisions on controlling sweet-associated constituents in tobacco products.