Nicotine makes surprise comeback as a wellness, productivity tool
statnews.com • • health
Key Points:
- Nicotine is gaining popularity beyond smoking cessation, with biohackers, athletes, and influencers promoting oral nicotine pouches and products for cognitive enhancement and wellness, despite limited scientific support and potential risks.
- Only a few nicotine pouches, such as Zyn and on!, are FDA-authorized in the U.S., while many startups face legal uncertainty and FDA warnings due to unapproved products being marketed as performance or wellness aids.
- Experts caution that nicotine’s cognitive benefits are largely overstated for healthy individuals and emphasize addiction risks, cardiovascular concerns, and the potential for nicotine to serve as a gateway substance, especially among youth.
- Companies like Athletic Nicotine and Nicotina are marketing nicotine as a performance tool, targeting health-conscious consumers
