Understanding the pros and cons of nicotine and nicotine salts in one article

Nov 14, 2023

Whether you smoke or not, you should have heard of nicotine; If you have used e-cigarettes, you may also have heard of nicotine salts. So what are the differences and advantages between nicotine and nicotine salts? Follow us to understand the advantages and disadvantages of nicotine and nicotine salts.
Nicotine, commonly known as nicotine, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C10H14N2. It is an alkaloid present in plants of the Solanaceae family (Solanaceae) and an important component of tobacco. It is also a representative of N-choline receptor agonists and has no clinical application value for both N1 and N2 receptors and the central nervous system.
Nicotine can cause addiction or dependence, and repeated use of nicotine can also increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, and reduce appetite. High doses of nicotine can cause vomiting and nausea, and in severe cases, people can die. Tobacco usually contains nicotine.
The chemical formula of nicotine and nicotine salts
Nicotine salts are composed of nicotine and weak acids, which naturally exist in tobacco leaves. Benzoic acid is the most commonly used acid in the production of nicotine salts; Nicotine pyruvate is another form of nicotine salt (used for atomizing nicotine through chemical reactions with pyruvate).
Nicotine solutions containing weak acids and free alkaloids can lower the pH value, providing higher levels of nicotine without irritating the throat. Nicotine salts are believed to increase the level and rate of nicotine delivery to users.
Through the atomization of electronic cigarettes, the speed at which nicotine salts enter the human body is similar to the speed at which nicotine is absorbed from traditional cigarettes. Traditional cigarettes provide high levels of nicotine, but the smoke taste is poor. However, electronic fumigation products can provide high levels of nicotine without negative smoking experiences. The irritation and bitterness of nicotine salts are relatively small, so even with high nicotine concentrations, electronic liquids containing nicotine salts can still be accepted. The atomized form of nicotine salt does not cause irritation to the chest and lungs like regular cigarettes. And protonated nicotine salts are more suitable for novice tobacco users to inhale.
Advantages and disadvantages of nicotine and nicotine salts
The greatest significance of nicotine salts lies in solving the problem of nicotine transport efficiency in the blood. Ordinary "free nicotine" cigarette oil is not ideal in attempting to increase the blood nicotine input of e-cigarette devices, making it difficult for e-cigarette users to achieve the same satisfaction as smoking. Moreover, the excessive nicotine content only stays on the excessive stimulation of the throat, effectively reaching only a small portion of the blood that truly needs nicotine within a short period of time. High levels of nicotine in tobacco oil can cause excessive irritation to the throat and also reduce the user experience of e-cigarettes. Nicotine salts have stronger penetration than "free nicotine", increasing the level of nicotine that can penetrate the blood at the same time. Therefore, they can provide a solution that can be absorbed by the blood similar to true tobacco nicotine, without excessively stimulating the throat.