Heated Tobacco Products: A futuristic alternative to traditional cigarettes.

Switching to Heated Tobacco: Is It Really Better for You?

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A comprehensive study reveals significant reductions in toxicant exposure when smokers switch from traditional cigarettes to heated tobacco products."

Smoking remains a leading cause of numerous health disorders, including lung disease, cardiovascular issues, and cancer. The primary culprit behind these diseases is the exposure to harmful toxicants released during the combustion of tobacco in traditional cigarettes.

Recognizing the urgent need to mitigate these health risks, researchers and public health advocates have been exploring various strategies to reduce toxicant exposure among smokers. One promising avenue involves the development and use of modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs), which aim to minimize the harmful effects associated with tobacco consumption.

Among the innovative approaches in this field, heated tobacco products (HTPs) have emerged as a potential alternative to traditional cigarettes. These products heat tobacco to a lower temperature, avoiding combustion and subsequently reducing the levels of harmful chemicals released. A recent study published in "Nicotine & Tobacco Research" investigates the impact of switching from conventional cigarettes to HTPs on the levels of biomarkers of exposure (BoE) in healthy Japanese subjects. This article delves into the findings of this study, exploring the potential benefits and implications of HTPs as a means to reduce toxicant exposure.

The Science Behind the Switch: How HTPs Reduce Toxicant Exposure

Heated Tobacco Products: A futuristic alternative to traditional cigarettes.

The study, a randomized controlled trial, focused on assessing whether switching from combustible cigarettes to HTPs could reduce biomarkers of toxicant exposure (BoE). Conducted on healthy Japanese smokers, the research compared the effects of using a novel HTP (glo™/THP1.0) and an in-market comparator (iQOS/THS) against continuing to smoke conventional cigarettes and quitting tobacco use altogether.

One hundred eighty participants were enrolled and underwent a baseline period where they smoked combustible cigarettes. Following this, they were randomized into four groups:

Continuing to smoke conventional cigarettes.
Switching to mentholated or non-mentholated variants of glo™.
Switching to a non-mentholated variant of iQOS.
Quitting nicotine and tobacco product use completely.

Urine samples were collected to measure BoE levels, and carbon monoxide levels in exhaled breath (eCO) were monitored daily. The results indicated that on day 5 after switching, urinary BoE (excluding nicotine) and eCO levels were significantly reduced in all groups using glo™ or iQOS, or quitting tobacco use. Specifically, reductions ranged from 20.9% to 92.1% compared to baseline levels.

The Future of Tobacco: HTPs as a Potential Harm Reduction Strategy

The study's findings suggest that HTPs have the potential to reduce exposure to smoke toxicants, offering a pathway to mitigate the harms associated with traditional cigarette smoking. As research in this area continues to evolve, HTPs may play a significant role in shaping the future of tobacco consumption and public health.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

What are heated tobacco products, and why are they considered different from regular cigarettes?

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are devices that heat tobacco to a lower temperature, avoiding combustion. This process reduces the levels of harmful chemicals released compared to traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco. The significance of HTPs lies in their potential to reduce exposure to smoke toxicants, offering a possible harm reduction strategy for smokers. The implications of using HTPs could lead to a decrease in smoking-related diseases if smokers switch from conventional cigarettes.

What are biomarkers of exposure, and why were they measured in this study?

The study measured biomarkers of exposure (BoE) to assess the levels of harmful chemicals in the body after switching to heated tobacco products (HTPs). Biomarkers of exposure are important because they provide a direct indication of how much a person is exposed to specific toxicants. By measuring these biomarkers, researchers can determine the effectiveness of HTPs in reducing exposure to harmful chemicals, which can then be correlated to potential health impacts.

How were the participants divided into groups, and why was this important for the study's goals?

The study involved four groups: one group continued smoking conventional cigarettes, two groups switched to different types of heated tobacco products (glo™ and iQOS), and one group quit nicotine and tobacco product use completely. These groups were chosen to compare the effects of switching to HTPs against both continuing to smoke traditional cigarettes and quitting altogether. This allows researchers to determine whether HTPs offer a significant reduction in toxicant exposure compared to conventional smoking, and how they compare to the ideal scenario of quitting.

What were the main findings of the study regarding the use of heated tobacco products?

The results indicated that switching to either glo™ or iQOS significantly reduced urinary biomarkers of exposure (BoE) and carbon monoxide levels in exhaled breath (eCO). These reductions, ranging from 20.9% to 92.1%, suggest that heated tobacco products (HTPs) can substantially decrease exposure to harmful chemicals compared to smoking conventional cigarettes. These findings are significant because they provide evidence that HTPs may offer a pathway to mitigate the harms associated with traditional cigarette smoking.

What are modified risk tobacco products, and how do heated tobacco products fit into this category?

Modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs) are products designed to minimize the harmful effects associated with tobacco consumption. Heated tobacco products (HTPs) fall under this category as they aim to reduce toxicant exposure by heating tobacco instead of burning it. The importance of MRTPs lies in their potential to offer smokers alternatives that are less harmful than traditional cigarettes. The implications of MRTPs, including HTPs, could lead to a decrease in smoking-related diseases and improve public health if smokers switch to these alternative products.