A Philip Morris study reported that ��perceived impact seems http://www.selleckchem.com/products/Sorafenib-Tosylate.html to vary as a function of the delivery levels of menthol and/or nicotine in smoke�� (Gullotta, Hayes, & Martin, 1989). In nonmenthol cigarettes, impact is dependent on nicotine delivery, while in menthol cigarettes, menthol delivery contributes to sensory perceptions of the smoke in the mouth and throat. Another Philip Morris study reported that higher strength ratings were observed with combined menthol and nicotine deliveries compared with nicotine delivery alone (Dunn, Jones, Martin, & Schori, 1975). Menthol’s sensory effects may serve as a conditioned stimulus increasing the reinforcing effects of nicotine in menthol cigarette smokers, thus increasing the addiction potential of menthol cigarettes.

Because the findings reviewed showed differences in the association of menthol cigarette use with measures of nicotine dependence using the TTF and FTND, implications for assessing nicotine dependence among menthol cigarette smokers should be considered. Given that Black and Hispanic/Latino smokers report smoking fewer cigarettes per day (Caraballo et al., 1998), indices such as awakening at night to smoke and TTF may be more appropriate markers of dependence than daily cigarette consumption as used in the FTND (Gandhi et al., 2009). Furthermore, TTF has been reported as a better predictor of plasma cotinine concentrations than cigarettes per day or FTND (Muscat, Stellman, Caraballo, & Richie, 2009). Assessment of nicotine dependence among persons smoking fewer cigarettes per day is especially relevant in clinical practice when determining appropriate levels of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy.

WHO (2007) has recommended the regulation of contents and designs of cigarettes that contribute to consumer appeal and palatability. They have further recommended the importance of educating menthol cigarette smokers that additives are masking the harshness of cigarette emissions and allowing them to bypass the body’s normal defense mechanisms for preventing exposure to detrimental substances. Public health messages regarding the potential masking effects of menthol in cigarettes are critical since use of menthol cigarettes may increase exposure to harmful smoke constituents in cigarettes as well as increase the addiction potential in users of this product. Supplementary Material Supplementary Table 1 can be found Cilengitide online at http://www.ntr.oxfordjournals.org Funding No external funding of manuscript development. Declaration of Interests None declared. Acknowledgments The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.