Menthol doesn't just cool your mouth — it might make nicotine stick around longer in your system. A new study found that when rats were exposed to both menthol and nicotine, the nicotine-induced drop in body temperature lasted significantly longer than nicotine alone. The difference was still measurable 120 minutes after exposure.

What the researchers found

The study looked at body temperature changes in rats given nicotine, menthol, or both. Nicotine on its own causes a temporary drop in body temperature — a well-documented effect. When menthol was added to the mix, that temperature drop lasted longer. The effect remained statistically significant two hours after exposure.

Body temperature is a proxy measure for how long nicotine is active in the system. A prolonged temperature change suggests the nicotine is being processed differently — either absorbed more slowly, metabolized more slowly, or both.

Why it matters for pouches

Menthol is one of the most popular flavors in nicotine pouches. It's in nearly every brand's lineup, often in multiple strengths. If menthol extends how long nicotine stays active, that could mean:

• Longer nicotine exposure per pouch. Users might be getting a more sustained release than they expect.
• Different addiction dynamics. Prolonged nicotine presence could affect how the brain responds to repeated use.
• Regulatory implications. Menthol bans are spreading across Europe and parts of the U.S. This study adds a pharmacological angle to what's mostly been framed as a youth-appeal issue.

The study used rats, not humans, and measured body temperature, not subjective experience or blood nicotine levels. But it's a data point regulators and manufacturers will likely pay attention to as the menthol debate intensifies.

What this doesn't prove

This is a rat study. Body temperature changes don't directly translate to addiction risk, user satisfaction, or health outcomes in people. The research doesn't tell us whether menthol pouches are more or less harmful than non-menthol versions, or whether users actually experience longer nicotine effects in practice.

It does confirm that menthol and nicotine interact in ways that go beyond flavor.

SOURCES:
Tobacco Reporter