Medical experts agree smoking is a health hazard, but many smokers choose to justify this habit by highlighting the calming and socialising effects they believe it may have. Some smokers of plants such as dagga also point to the medical benefits some studies have shown.
A new NWU study is challenging smokers’ perceptions and justifications by looking at the possible detrimental effect the habit may have on the effectiveness of chronic medication.
Dr Wihan Pheiffer, senior lecturer at the DSI/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, says their study on herb-drug interactions specifically concerns what effects the smoking of tobacco and other plant material has on the pharmacokinetics — the uptake, breakdown (metabolism) distribution and removal — of medication in the body.
“This includes how smoking can delay the time medication is in the body, which leads to higher blood levels and may result in toxicity in patients. In some cases, it may also lead to acceleration in the metabolism and removal, which may render the medication useless.”
Dr Pheiffer explains that although his research group focuses on the potential effects of smoking in mouse models, it has been modified to express human genes. “This allows us to accurately explore specific changes in the pharmacokinetics in the mice, and so predict the changes in humans. Additionally, we can identify the negative effects of exposure to smoke.”
Clinical data confirms that smoking has an effect
He says clinical data shows that smoking tobacco affects certain medication by either accelerating or delaying its metabolism in the body. Is this true for everything people smoke? This is what Dr Pheiffer and his team want to establish. Their aim is to investigate the effects all types of plants may have. They will eventually also test traditional medications that are inhaled in other ways, like incense.
The study is in its early stages and, this being just the start of a long-term research project, the researchers realise there may be obstacles on the way – some of which they already have overcome.
“This type of research is unfortunately very expensive, but we are lucky to already have received national funding.” He says they are also very fortunate to have ethical and accredited laboratory animal technologists and a veterinarian on the team to help with specialised training for the student researchers participating in the study.
“We believe this study will have significant impact and will certainly empower patients who rely on chronic medication to make informed decisions when it comes to their health. Showing that it has an effect may empower medical practitioners to encourage or suggest to people on specific medication to stop smoking or to consult their doctor for alternative and more efficient treatment. This will greatly improve their quality of life. The research can also specifically aid in responsibly adapting treatment or prescription medication,” he concludes.
Watch Dr Pheiffer give more information about the project in the video below.
