Odor Blockers for Smoking

Overseen By Timothy McClintock, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Tim McClintock

Disqualifiers: Non smoker, Inability to smell

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 hours per session

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore whether blocking certain smells in cigarette smoke can help people stop smoking. Researchers seek to determine if reducing the smell of smoke decreases the urge to light up. Participants will smell various samples, including clean air, odorants (substances used to block or alter smells), and smoke, and report how each affects their desire to smoke. The study seeks smokers with a normal sense of smell and taste. As an unphased trial, participants have the unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new smoking cessation methods.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that these odor blockers are safe for use in smoking cessation?

Research shows that the odor blockers used in this trial are generally safe for people. Although specific proof of safety for this treatment is not yet available, the trial is in its early stages, and researchers are still collecting detailed safety information.

Similar studies with odorants have not reported major negative effects, indicating that participants have tolerated these substances well. Additionally, the treatments involve smelling odor samples, which is typically low-risk. While data on these specific odor blockers remains limited, the early stage of the trial ensures that researchers exercise caution as they gather more safety information. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using odorants as a potential treatment for smoking because they offer a novel way to alter the smoking experience. Unlike traditional methods such as nicotine replacement therapies or prescription medications that target nicotine addiction directly, odorants work by modifying the sensory perception of cigarette smoke. By introducing blocking odors, this approach aims to make smoking less enjoyable, potentially reducing the urge to smoke. This sensory-based intervention could provide a complementary or alternative avenue for those struggling with smoking cessation.

What evidence suggests that odor blockers could be effective for smoking cessation?

Research has shown that certain smells can help reduce the urge to smoke. One study found that both pleasant and unpleasant smells decreased the desire to smoke compared to a neutral smell. In this trial, participants who smoke will encounter various odor samples, including blocking odors and cigarette smoke mixed with these odors. Smokers often have a weaker sense of smell, but quitting can enhance their ability to enjoy different scents. Using odor blockers might help people quit smoking by making cigarette smoke less appealing. Early evidence is promising, suggesting that smells could be a helpful tool in quitting smoking. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Timothy McClintock, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Kentucky

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who currently smoke cigarettes and can smell and taste normally. It's not suitable for non-smokers or those with a self-reported inability to smell or taste.

Inclusion Criteria

Smoker

Exclusion Criteria

I cannot smell or taste anything.

Non Smoker

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are exposed to various odor samples, including controls, blocking odors, and cigarette smoke, and report on odor pleasantness and desire to smoke.

3 hours per session

Multiple sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in smoking behavior and perception of odors after treatment sessions.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Odorants

Trial Overview

The study is testing whether certain substances, called odor blockers, can reduce the appeal of cigarette smoke by suppressing its perceived intensity, potentially helping smokers quit.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Participants that Smoke Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Each smoker is asked to smell up to 20 samples per session. Samples include controls (clean air, irrelevant odor), blocking odors, cigarette smoke, and cigarette smoke mixed with blocking odors or irrelevant odors.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Tim McClintock

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

40+

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Former smokers who quit smoking within the last 15 years showed significant olfactory impairment compared to never smokers, indicating that the effects of smoking on the sense of smell can last for over a decade after cessation.

Olfactory decline may serve as a predictor for cardiovascular disease, suggesting that monitoring smell function could help identify individuals at risk for heart attacks or heart disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olfactory dysfunction persists after smoking cessation and signals increased cardiovascular risk. Siegel, JK., Wroblewski, KE., McClintock, MK., et al.[2023]

The hypobaric chamber tar-removing system (HCTRS) effectively removes 98.5% of tar from mainstream cigarette smoke, as demonstrated by a study involving 80 smoker volunteers and the analysis of tar retention in prototypes.

The device not only reduces tar but also decreases the inhalation of harmful polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are known carcinogens, suggesting it could significantly improve health outcomes for smokers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a new device to retain carcinogenic compounds of tar from mainstream cigarette smoke for the prevention of smoking-associated tumors. Lazzarino, G., Tavazzi, B., Sinibaldi-Vallebona, P., et al.[2023]

In a study involving four sedentary subjects who smoked eight cigarettes over one hour, it was found that the odor intensity in the chamber increased significantly after smoking, indicating the lingering effects of cigarette smoke.

The odor intensity remained constant for one to two hours after smoking, suggesting that cigarette smoke acts as an unreactive contaminant in the environment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stability of tobacco smoke odor in enclosed spaces. Clausen, GH., Fanger, PO., Cain, WS., et al.[2016]

A study of 65 smokers and 49 non-smokers using the 'Sniffin' Sticks' test revealed that smokers had significantly lower scores in olfactory function measures, indicating impaired sense of smell.

The research found that smoking is a strong independent risk factor for olfactory deficits, with smokers being nearly six times more likely to experience these deficits compared to non-smokers, and the severity of impairment was related to the duration and amount of smoking.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of smoking on the olfactory function. Katotomichelakis, M., Balatsouras, D., Tripsianis, G., et al.[2022]

In a study of 638 participants, cigarette smoking was found to negatively impact the ability to identify odors in a dose-related manner, meaning the more someone smoked, the worse their sense of smell was.

Current smokers were nearly twice as likely to have olfactory deficits compared to non-smokers, but those who quit smoking showed improvements in their sense of smell over time, indicating that the effects of smoking on olfactory function can be long-lasting yet reversible.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dose-related effects of cigarette smoking on olfactory function. Frye, RE., Schwartz, BS., Doty, RL.[2016]

Citations

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Effects of Olfactory Stimuli on Urge Reduction in Smokers - PMC

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Odor Blockers for Smoking · Info for Participants

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New technology helps detect receptors that respond to ...

McClintock says they expect blockers to improve smoking cessation, which has very low success rates and has sometimes involved approaches ...

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Psychological Effects of Aromatherapy on Smokers With ...

The aim of this study was to examine the potential effects of aromatherapy on psychological states in smokers with depressive tendencies.

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The results of the present study indicate that current smokers have a higher olfactory threshold for nicotine than do nonsmokers.

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New Study Looks at Encoding the Odor of Cigarette Smoke

McClintock says they expect blockers to improve smoking cessation, which has very low success rates and has sometimes involved approaches such ...

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Efficacy and Safety of a Nicotine Mouth Spray for Smoking ...

These study results demonstrate that the NMS is an effective and safe smoking cessation option for smokers motivated to quit, even in a naturalistic setting.