Why We Must Continue to Investigate Menthol’s Role in the African American Smoking Paradox

摘要: Background The disproportionate burden of tobacco use among African Americans is largely unexplained. unexplained disparities, referred to as the American smoking paradox, includes several phenomena. Despite their social disadvantage, youth have lower prevalence rates, initiate at older ages, and during adulthood, rates are comparable whites. Smoking frequency intensity adults compared whites Indian Alaska Natives, but tobacco-caused morbidity mortality disproportionately higher. Disease prediction models not explained disease causal pathways in Americans. It has been hypothesized that menthol cigarette smoking, which high Americans, may help explain components paradox. Purpose This article provides an overview potential role plays We also discuss research needed better understand this unresolved puzzle. Methods examined prior synthesis reports reviewed literature PubMed on compound Results pharmacological physiological effects interaction with biological genetic factors indirectly contribute diseases Conclusions Future studies examine taste sensitivity, compound, chronic would provide valuable information how reduce Implications Our study highlights four counterintuitive observations related risk profiles outcomes extant strong evidence existence shows long-standing paradoxes unaffected by changes environment. smoke menthols disproportionately, menthol's paradox thoroughly explored. propose discrete hypotheses will phenomena encourage researchers empirically test initiation, transitions regular