Swedish Research Compares Smoking With Use Of Snuff And Risk Of Developing MS

Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis
Also Included In: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 02 Sep 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Researchers have found that smoking may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but that long-term use of Swedish snuff does not increase the risk.

The Swedish study, published in the journal Neurology, found that the risk of developing MS was up to two times greater in people who smoked than in people who didn't smoke.

In contrast, the study found that people who used Swedish snuff - a tobacco product prepared and used in a different way - over a period of 15 years did not have an increased risk of developing MS.

Several previous studies have reported that smoking increases the risk of developing MS, but researchers have not yet found the underlying reason for this.

The new finding suggests that nicotine, a common ingredient found in both cigarette smoke and Swedish snuff may not be the contributing risk factor for the development of MS.

Dr Susan Kohlhaas, research communications officer at the MS Society, said: "Many studies to date have suggested that smoking may increase the risk of developing MS and the reasons for this are being widely investigated.

"The finding that Swedish snuff appears not to increase the risk of developing MS suggests that some of the common ingredients found in both products may not be responsible for increasing the risk of developing MS."

Source
MS Society