Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40831452›Full record

ArticleTobacco prevention & cessation2025

Assessing the gastrointestinal and psychological impacts of nicotine pouch use among adults in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Amal M Al-Nafisi, Ziyad B Alsulami, Musab B Alsulami, Ali K Alhazmi, Bassam A AlKhrashi, Meshal A Alzakari, Alwaleed S Alshutwi, Khaled Y Bokhari, Faisal Alzkari, Osama T Al-Ahmari

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco prevention & cessation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Instagram Memes of Oral Nicotine Pouches: Content Analysis Study.Online journal of public health informatics · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Amal M Al-Nafisi *Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ziyad B Alsulami *Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Musab B Alsulami *Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ali K AlhazmiDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bassam A AlKhrashiDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Meshal A AlzakariDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Alwaleed S AlshutwiDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Khaled Y BokhariDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal AlzkariDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Osama T Al-AhmariDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionNicotine pouches have recently gained popularity among adults in Saudi Arabia, but limited information is available about the common symptoms' users may experience. This study looks into how frequently users report gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms and explores possible links with different personal and behavioral factors.

methodsWe conducted an online cross-sectional survey among adult Saudis who used nicotine pouches in the recent half year. The survey collected demographic data, patterns of usage, and gastrointestinal symptoms self-assessed. Psychiatric status was assessed using the Arabic DASS-21 version. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29 with the help of descriptive and logistic regression analysis.

resultsA total of 1214 individuals participated. Most (80.8%) reported at least one gastrointestinal symptom - mainly bloating (66.7%), nausea (47.9%), and heartburn (46.7%). Around 39.3% of participants reported psychological symptoms, with mild symptoms being the most common (19.9%). The analysis showed that people with lower education and income levels were more likely to report psychological symptoms (p=0.004 and p<0.001). A slight trend was also noted among current smokers, though not statistically significant (p=0.076).

conclusionsThe study found that many users of nicotine pouches report gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms. The symptoms seem more common among individuals with lower socioeconomic status. Although the findings do not imply direct effects, they indicate that there should be greater awareness and more research, especially long-term research, to establish how nicotine pouch use can be attributed to health problems.

Indexed as

gastrointestinalKSAnicotine pouch usepsychological impact

Identifiers

PMID40831452
PMCPMC12359081

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.