The analysis of nicotine-1‘-N-oxide in urine, in the presence of nicotine and cotinine, and its application to the study of in vivo nicotine metabolism in man

Abstract

Abstract A rapid quantitative assay for nicotine-1′-N-oxide in urine, in the presence of nicotine and cotinine, is reported. The urinary excretion of nicotine, cotinine and nicotine-1′-N-oxide was determined after nicotine had been administered in cigarette smoke, orally, or intravenously to subjects with either fluctuating, controlled acidic or controlled alkaline urinary pH. The urinary excretion of the N-oxide in 24 h from smokers under normal conditions was about half that of the cotinine excretion; more trans- than cis-diastereoisomer of nicotine-1′-N-oxide was excreted.