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. 1990 Sep;80(9):1053–1056. doi: 10.2105/ajph.80.9.1053

Racial differences in serum cotinine levels among smokers in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in (Young) Adults study.

L E Wagenknecht 1, G R Cutter 1, N J Haley 1, S Sidney 1, T A Manolio 1, G H Hughes 1, D R Jacobs 1
PMCID: PMC1404871  PMID: 2382740

Abstract

Cotinine was measured in the serum of nearly all 5,115 18-30 year old, Black and White, men and women participating in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in (Young) Adults Study, 30 percent of whom reported current cigarette smoking. Ninety-five percent of the reported smokers had serum cotinine levels indicative of smoking (greater than 13 ng/ml). The median cotinine level was higher in Black than White smokers (221 ng/ml versus 170 ng/ml; 95 percent CI for difference: 34, 65) in spite of the fact that estimated daily nicotine exposure and serum thiocyanate were higher in Whites. The difference persisted after controlling for number of cigarettes, nicotine content, frequency of inhalation, weekly sidestream smoke exposure, age, gender, and education. A reporting bias and nicotine intake were ruled out as explanations for the racial difference suggesting that the metabolism of nicotine or the excretion of cotinine may differ by race. Racial differences in cotinine levels may provide clues to the reasons for the observed lower cessation rates and higher rates of some smoking-related cancers in Blacks.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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