Genetics may have a lot to do with how easily you can quit smoking, according to a new study. A smoker’s genetic make-up may be a determinant of his chances in quitting smoking and the treatment suitable for him.
Today, the harmful effects of smoking are a given, widely-publicized, and conclusive. It is the leading cause of preventable deaths such as heart attacks and lung cancer, of which 90% of deaths are smoking-attributed. And although smoking rates have seen a decline due to increasing cost and decreasing social acceptance, the frustrating struggle to quit is also a given.
The quest on smoking cessation has seen development of a variety of tools such as nicotine patches, gums, nasal sprays and prescription drugs like bupropion or Zyban. The effectivity of these nicotine replacements vary from person to person: one of the reasons scientists have now presented is genetics.
A National Institute of Health (NIH) study jointly funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), GlaxoSmithKline and the Pennsylvania Department of Health explored the role of genetics in smoking cessation. Headed by Dr. George Uhl of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the genome-wide association study aimed to determine genetic differences between smokers who were able to quit and those who did not. It also compared differences among people using nicotine replacement therapy and those using Zyban.
The study was able to determine a set of variations in genes that appear to influence the chances of a smoker’s success rate depending on what he uses: whether he uses the drug Zyban or other nicotine replacement therapies. Identifiable genes were found to influence brain function, some even hypothesized to induce addition. Researchers recommended further studies to determine how these variations specifically contribute to nicotine addiction and successful quitting.
In another study, School of Medicine researchers reported uncovering evidence that genetics is involved in nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Findings to indicate the role of genetic factors in smoking cessation attempts are published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
Tags: quitting smoking, smoking genetics