Smokers 'four times less likely' to contract Covid-19, prompting nicotine patch trials on patients

[Tactical Peek]

Source: The Telegraph



Smokers 'four times less likely' to contract Covid-19, prompting nicotine patch trials on patients

Researchers in France will test nicotine patches on health workers and patients but reiterated smoking could also cause more severe illness

By Henry Samuel 23 April 2020 • 5:04pm

Frontline health workers and patients in France may be given nicotine patches after studies found that four times fewer smokers contracted Covid-19 than non-smokers.

It may sound counterintuitive that people who puff on Gauloises are less likely to catch a virus that can cause deadly attacks on the lungs. However, that was the statistical outcome of an in-depth study conducted by the Pasteur Institute, a leading French research centre into the disease.

The institute tested almost 700 teachers and pupils of a school in Crépy-en-Valois in one of the hardest-hit areas in France, as well as their families. The “highly accurate” tests found that only 7.2 per cent of smokers from among the adults tested were infected while four times as many non-smokers, some 28 per cent, were infected.

Arnaud Fontanet, an epidemiologist at the institute, warned that they were not encouraging people to take up smoking, remarking that those smokers who do catch the virus “risk suffering more complications” than others. Scientists suggested it could be the nicotine in cigarettes that was behind the surprising results regarding infection, although more research is needed.

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more at link




Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/23/smokers-four-times-less-likely-contract-covid-19-prompting-nicotine/

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[LisaM]

1. Maybe there's less blood flow to the lungs.

I mean, who knows, but it seems strange.

[Mike 03]

7. I was wondering that too, sort of.

the virus can't even find its way to the ACE2 receptors because of the tar. If the virus travels through the bloodstream though your theory makes more sense.

[LisaM]

11. And there's less blood going to the lungs to clot.

However, that was just something that popped into my head and should in no way be construed as a thought that has any merit.

[Mike 03]

16. Thinking outside the box is appreciated, at least by me.

I wonder about things like this all the time.

[LisaM]

19. Ha!

I just don't want to wear a nicotine patch. It doesn't seem like a good solution. I'd rather smoke, and I've never been a smoker.

[mpcamb]

60. In most cases already dealing with impared lungs with smokers.

Surprising that that is supportive.

[yellowdogintexas]

83. my first thought was the tar, not the nicotine

nicotine is a stimulant and messes with blood pressure and other things, but that layer of yuck that fills the lungs of a smoker is nasty. Seems like the virus can't penetrate it

[capechacon]

54. More likely that.....

nicotine or some other component of the smoke is somehow toxic to corona virus.

[live love laugh]

82. Yep I think lung tissue changes in smokers--mayby

not a hospitable environment for the virus.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Nicotine might have something to do with blood clotting or cytokine storm . . . nt

[Mike 03]

33. You might have figured this out

Nicotine is a nonselective agonist of the α7Ach receptor and is able to suppress the production of proinflammatory cytokines by mimicking the binding of acetylcholine. It has been demonstrated that nicotine can selectively reduce the inflammatory response in a number of infection scenarios, including Legionella pneumophila (54) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (55) infection; however, it is highly unlikely that nicotine will ever be used clinically due to its toxicity, addictive nature, and lack of specificity.

From Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2013 Mar; 20(3): 319–327.
doi: 10.1128/CVI.00636-12
PMCID: PMC3592351
PMID: 23283640
Targeting the “Cytokine Storm” for Therapeutic Benefit
Riccardo V. D'Elia,corresponding author Kate Harrison, Petra C. Oyston, Roman A. Lukaszewski, and Graeme C. Clark

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3592351/

There's also a paper about the use of nicotine to suppress cytokine production in Crohn's Disease:

In-vivo effect of nicotine on cytokine production by human non-adherent mononuclear cells. (result: Nicotine inhibits Interleukin 10)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8930570

[Aimee in OKC]

73. An additional α7nAChR agonist, anti-inflammatory

I'd be interested to see if anyone's exploring this route since it seems to be much less toxic than nicotine.

(Excerpted from article)

https://www.medchemexpress.com/GTS-21-dihydrochloride.html

nAChR GTS-21 dihydrochloride
(Synonyms: DMXB-A; DMBX-anabaseine)

Description
GTS-21 dihydrochloride (...) a selective α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, has recently been established as a promising treatment for inflammation.

Target: nAChR in vitro: GTS-21 is one of the most potent α7nAChR agonists, has been reported to attenuate pro-inflammatory cytokine production, improve outcomes in sepsis models, pancreatitis, and ischemia-reperfusion injury, and inhibit the production of endotoxin-induced TNF in lung tissue.

In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that GTS-21 inhibits the activities of endothelial cells and monocyte macrophages, as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood samples, by regulating the JAK2-STAT3 pathway.

[JudyM]

51. Cannabis ought to be able to do the same... wonder if it's being studied as well.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

53. Not necessarily. Nicotine is an alkaloid. Cannabis is not & has own specialized neurochemicals. .nt

[JudyM]

56. It's anti-inflammatory though, and has anticoagulant properties.

[Faux pas]

3. Smoke

'em if you've got 'em

[Loki Liesmith]

4. Sounds like Bayesian statistics biting scientists in the rear again

Good old Reverend Bayes. Fairly sure this is a garbage result.

[SergeStorms]

72. Probably because....

smokers know they're fucked anyway, so they take more precautions to not get the virus? It smells quite fishy to me as well.

[RobinA]

74. As An Ex-Smoker

I think I can safely say that very few smokers I ever knew think they’re fucked, and even fewer take more precautions about much of anything. For example, they smoke.

[SergeStorms]

84. You don't think smokers....

realize they're cutting their lives short by smoking? I used to smoke as well, and I have mild COPD because of it (I'm 70 now). With every cigarette I smoked I knew I was doing harm to my body, but nicotine is the most addicting drug I've ever come across. I haven't tried heroin, and don't plan to. I'm terribly afraid I'd like it too much.

[BamaRefugee]

5. Did they also test baguette eaters and pate' lovers? Wine aficionados? Jerry Lewis fans?

I love France and have visited several times, so I'm wondering if more is involved than just the smoking?

Could it be that bad breath from the Gauloises makes no one want to kiss them or get close to their face, thus lowering the risk of infection?

[IronLionZion]

6. I'm very skeptical of studies like this

“Thus, current smoking status appears to be a protective factor against the infection by SARS-CoV-2.”

The researchers said that a “nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)” plays a key role in infection from the coronavirus and that nicotine may act to protect this receptor from attack. It may also lessen the overreaction of the body’s immune system that has been found in the most severe cases of Covid-19 infection.

I suppose it's worth investigating everything in hopes of finding treatments but I won't be taking up smoking. No thanks

[moriah]

64. Maybe the smokers, knowing they were more at risk...

... had followed social distancing guidelines more assiduously/washed their hands more vs giving up the habit.

Though smokers do touch their face more often, and so any benefit to handwashing would have to be from it being done after re-entry into the home, and not smoking in the car between locations and trying very hard not to touch their face until they got home.

[Sgent]

79. We knew there was some

sort of interaction between smoking and COVID even as far back as Jan. Just looking at the statistics for Wuhan smokers are underrepresented.

[The Mouth]

8. Ahead of his time

[customerserviceguy]

30. You beat me to it. n/t

[sdfernando]

42. All of this self-isolating

sure does make that Orb attractive!

[JudyM]

50. !

[brush]

9. Maybe lung cancer, but who's counting?

[ancianita]

10. I'll take it. For me, the report adds a positive to smoking as a "coping mechanism."

I'm also half French. Maybe that helps, too.

[appalachiablue]

29. +1 In grade school I had a crush on Alain Delon but didn't

know who he was yet. I like Casablanca, watch it a lot.

In middle school I studied francaise and in college it was the Impressionists and Symbolists.

France I've visited a few times, Paris has my heart. Love New Orleans and Martinique.

I hope this helps. Merci beaucoups et Vive La France!

[ancianita]

39. Hahaha... yes, anything helps!

Merci aussi pour vos mots encourageants!

Although my second language is Spanish. Qué lástima.

[Mike 03]

12. This is what I posted on another thread about this topic.

Can't find much on the antiviral properties of nicotine, justone paper I don't want to pay to access:

S1932 Effect of Nicotine On Innate Antiviral Pathways and HCV Replication
Yamashina et al., 2008
https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(08)63674-4/pdf
(Sorry, this link keeps posting as a broken link)

Supposedly the study asserts nicotine prevents Hepatitis C viral replication.

Nicotine causes dose-dependent inhibition of the growth of various bacterial and fungal pathogens (Pavia et al., 2000 ), and has been shown to kill parasitoids in two caterpillar species (Barbosa et al., 1986). Nicotine also has antiviral effects, as shown for the hepatitis C virus, where the alkaloid inhibits viral replication (Yamashina et al., 2008 ). In a recent study, another nectar alkaloid, gelsemine, reduced infection by a protozoan pathogen (Crithidia bombi) in bumble bees (Manson et al., 2010).


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/246722772_S1932_Effect_of_Nicotine_On_Innate_Antiviral_Pathways_and_HCV_Replication

Doubt much will come of this, but we'll see.

EDIT: Nicotine does have some interesting properties. It was studied as a possible treatment (not cure) for Alzheimer's disease at one point.

[ancianita]

40. Thank you for this! Interesting stuff!

[appalachiablue]

81. Check out nicotine properties, anti viral, poss Alz treatment

[Marrah_Goodman]

13. If this is true...

Maybe my mother will quit nagging me about vaping!

[Leith]

21. I have another good reason to vape right now

Not only do we get the effects of nicotine without the tar, added chemicals, and smell, but my ejuice contains 30% propolyne glycol (sorry about the spelling). A gaseous solution that is often piped into hospital rooms of pneumonia patients contains 3% PG.

Not making any claims, but it may keep your mom at bay for a few minutes.

[Marrah_Goodman]

26. She freaked after all the BS erroneous media reports that failed to mention the real problem

Bootleg THC cartridges.

My state and the state next door (RI and MA) both caved due to the pressure caused by those lying news reports and I have to make my own e-juice now. It crushed a lot of really good small businesses.

[Mike 03]

14. They should also compare their findings with people who use nicotine but NOT by

smoking cigarettes or cigars (possibly vaping, but vaping isn't the same as smoking tobacco), such as gum, lozenges, patches, snuff.

(Just an idea).

[Buckeye_Democrat]

15. Interesting text from the article...

The researchers said that a “nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)” plays a key role in infection from the coronavirus and that nicotine may act to protect this receptor from attack.

Don’t be hoarding all the cartons of cigs now, people!

[Mike 03]

17. Thank you for catching this.

[htuttle]

18. So, finally a problem we can solve with alcohol and cigarettes?

Though I understand the alcohol should be poured on one's hands...

[eggplant]

41. But not at the same time, lest one combusts.

[stillcool]

46. add a little sugar and some caffeine..

set for life.

[burrowowl]

20. Kick

[Sloumeau]

22. The prisoners are really going to be fighting over the cigarettes now I guess. :) nt

[bucolic_frolic]

23. Pinched lungs or a substance that inhibits the virus

[Mike 03]

24. FWIW, I'm completely striking out finding ANY papers or articles

on a link between COVID-19 and Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR).

Ordinarily, no matter how thin the evidence there's something interesting online. The only articles/papers that appear have to do with this new French study.

[Warpy]

25. OK, we'll start to see TP again

but people trying to quit smoking are not going to be able to find lozenges, gum, or patches for love or money.

My own guess says that smokers enjoy better social distancing from others because nonsmokers are trying to avoid the reek.

Personally, I'll wait for proof that coronavirus has something to do with nicotine receptors.

[EllieBC]

27. My husband used to smoke and now vapes.

I might ask him to vape more around me. Or maybe I will try it again.

[StarryNite]

31. Four people I know would have loved to hear this!

Unfortunately they have all already died from lung cancer.

[imavoter]

32. Is it the smoke or the nicotine...

Nicotine actually helps with bleeding.
They don't like people to know that, though.

[B Stieg]

34. Smokers of...what?

Just askin'...

[Chainfire]

35. This sounds like really good news

for a lot of Trump's base.

[LizBeth]

36. Everything about this is wrong. Now I am FB my people, texting my sons.

I quit 13 days ago. Now I ask, is the smoking what has kept me from getting sick for 4 decades. Quitting 13 days ago because of the virus, it is taunting me, universe taunting me. The first time I truly feel like this quitting will be easy. I stopped taking chantix cause I did not need it.

Wrong! wrong wrong.

[RobinA]

75. My Father

smoked his entire life and I never knew the man to have a respiratory infection my entire life with him, 59 years. Never once. COPD, yes. Cold? Flu? Not ever. But quitting is good, keep it up.

[Towlie]

37. Maybe it's because smokers are obnoxious and repel others, thus achieving social distancing.

[ancianita]

45. Hey! LOTS of Democrats like me smoke!

Me Kylie Jenner Prince (oh wait) Jessic Alba Salma Hayek Johnny Depp Brad Pitt Elijah Wood Leo DeCaprio Barack Obama

to name a few! Support Democrats!

[former9thward]

59. I find just the opposite.

Especially non smokers who want everyone to know it. And ex smokers are the worst. I don't smoke but I would rather be around smokers any day than a group of self-righteous non-smokers. When I am in a bar I go out to the patio with the smokers who are friendly and having a good time. The non-smokers are inside glumly looking at their beer.

[RobinA]

76. I'm An Ex-Smoker

and I would rather be around meat-eating smokers. That crowd outside restaurants in the city catching a smoke? They are having fun. I’d rather be out there too.

[Skittles]

85. I quit smoking 10 years ago

but I LOVE the smell of tobacco and always try to catch a whiff when passing by them - it amuses them greatly

[tavernier]

78. Yup, Smokers are a lot more personable I've found.

I don’t anymore, but I’ll fall in and chat with the doorstep people any time.

[EllieBC]

80. Long long ago when I was a waitress I preferred the smoking section

This was early 90s. The smokers were way more relaxed, fun, and honestly...tipped more.

[Hugin]

67. That's my hypothesis...

I don't believe it has anything to do with nicotine.

[Tiger8]

38. Are smokers younger? Lower BMI? Less likely to have other health issues?

You must hold all risk factors equal.

My guess is that older people or those with existing health issues, including obesity, are less likely to smoke.

[Shrek]

43. This was the plot of an old short story

https://www.amazon.com/Pandemic-Jesse-Franklin-Bone/dp/1495331547

I won't post any spoilers but it's a good read.

[HuskyOffset]

44. Hey MAGAts! This just in!

Cigarettes contain tar, which gets in the lungs when you smoke, therefore coronavirus hates tar, therefore, DRINKING TAR PREVENTS CORONAVIRUS! Just find your nearest roofer, have them heat you up a steaming mug of roofing tar and guzzle that sumbitch down! Yum yum, good for ya!


/sarcasm of course. DON'T DRINK TAR. You'll poke your eye out.

[spudspud]

48. In the words of their false Messiah-- "What have you got to lose?" /nt

[Tiger8]

49. Oh, I get it now. A little reverse psychology, eh?

Rest assured, no MAGAt is gonna let you restrict their "feedrom" to guzzle said mentioned bucket of tar.

[spudspud]

47. This study brought to you by your friendly, neighborhood Big Tobacco firm. /nt

[Mr.Bill]

52. If smoking prevented Coronavirus,

France would have about ten cases in the entire country.

[trixie2]

55. and...............................

[barbtries]

57. it doesn't make me want to go outside,

but it does make me feel just a little bit better about my chances of getting the virus.

[klook]

58. Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking!

[Maeve]

61. Try googling "nicotine kills viruses and bacteria"

And you'll be off down a half-million page rabbit hole that will eat up the rest of the week....

[JDC]

62. This study brought to you by Altria

[amuse bouche]

63. Study sponsored by Joe Camel

[Hugin]

65. It's because nobody will come within 10ft of a smoker...

They were ahead of the curve on social distancing.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

66. Hmmm. When this first broke out in China,

and men were dying at far, far higher rates than women, one explanation offered was that so many more Chinese men (two-thirds of them) smoke as compared to maybe ten percent of the women.

Here's something else that makes this report highly suspect: Smokers, like obese people, are likely to have any number of underlying health conditions. Like high blood pressure. Coronary artery disease. All kinds of compromises to the lungs. And on and on.

This is going to pan out rather like the very earliest indications that chloroquine was supposed to be effective against the virus.

I just am not buying what they are selling here.

[Hugin]

69. Let's say it turns out to be true...

I think it'll be found to be a case of correlation and not a causation.

It may be a behavior common to smokers such as a tendency to maintain a physical distance from others than from the smoking itself. Which, would cause a reduction in contracting the virus.

As you pointed out, in the very different culture of China vs France, the correlation didn't hold up.

[Rebl2]

71. I don't believe

this for one minute. It makes no sense.

[Soxfan58]

68. No one gets within 6 ft of them

[safeinOhio]

70. Call your broker in the morning and

go long. On average, tobacco dividend stocks pay very consistent and attractive dividends and can be a great source of income for investors.

[Initech]

77. I thought this was a respiratory illness.

How are you supposed to fight a lung infection if your lungs are fried from smoke?

[JI7]

86. One of the reasons given for why Italy was hit so hard was because smoking was common

among the older generation when they were growing up.