Nicotine Pouches and Absorption: How Does it Work?

When comparing nicotine pouches, most customers want to know how much nicotine a product contains. But just because a pouch says it has 6 mg of nicotine, it doesn’t mean the body absorbs the same amount.

The nicotine absorption process is somewhat more complex, but it’s important to understand — especially for those who want to switch from other nicotine products to pouches. Let’s break it down.

How Does the Body Absorb Nicotine?

Absorption is one key to the intensity and duration of a nicotine experience. Let’s examine the basics.

Nicotine can be absorbed in many ways, including through the lungs and the skin. In the case of nicotine pouches, the mouth plays this role. Users place nicotine pouches below their upper lip, and they absorb nicotine through the oral mucosa (the lining of the mouth).

Then, nicotine enters the bloodstream and is distributed to tissues and organs, including the brain. This activates some of the body’s reward systems, increasing dopamine concentration. It also stimulates the adrenal glands, which release adrenaline.

As the absorption process continues, nicotine levels in the brain and blood rise, and the peak of this sensation is sometimes known as a "nicotine rush".

Humans already have a small amount of nicotine in their plasma that comes from various plants — around 2.1 nanograms per milliliter. The use of nicotine products increases this, and levels can reach up to 29 ng/mL from nicotine pouch consumption.

Over time, these levels reduce, and the pouch sensation wears off.

Factors that Affect Nicotine Absorption

The nicotine absorption process itself may be fairly consistent, but the speed and efficiency at which it takes place can vary considerably.

This will depend on:

• Method of absorption — such as mouth, skin, and lungs
• Type of nicotine — nicotine salt vs freebase nicotine
• Specifics of the product — a product’s pH, moisture content, and even size
• Specifics of the individual — the efficiency and tolerance of their body

This article will run through each factor in greater detail.

Salt Nicotine vs Freebase Nicotine Absorption

Nicotine salt occurs naturally in tobacco leaves. To use it in nicotine products, the salt is generally extracted from the plant (or, in the case of synthetically created nicotine, from the lab) and blended with an acid like citric acid or benzoic acid.

Meanwhile, freebase nicotine is nicotine salt with the salt protons stripped away, creating a more “pure” form of nicotine. It’s often found in cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

A study focused on e-liquids and vaping found that nicotine salts are absorbed 30-40% faster than freebase nicotine. They also resulted in users reaching peak nicotine levels more quickly and having a higher concentration of nicotine in their bloodstream.

Why? The chemical structure of nicotine salts may make nicotine salt more bioavailable, therefore aiding absorption.

Users who want to absorb as much nicotine as possible will be pleased to learn that nicotine pouches generally contain nicotine salt.

Absorption Rates of Different Products

Different nicotine products boast different absorption rates, partly due to the absorption methods they use and partly due to their design.

On average, a smoker absorbs 1-2 milligrams of nicotine per cigarette, which is only around 10% of the total nicotine contained. The nicotine is also absorbed very quickly, with the nicotine going from the lungs to the bloodstream in a matter of seconds.

Nicotine pouches have a higher absorption rate of 25-30% since absorption happens through the mouth’s mucous membranes (the inner lining of the mouth). As there are a lot of blood vessels in the mouth, this is a relatively effective absorption method.

Meanwhile, nicotine patches have one of the highest absorption rates, at 75-80%. However, the skin absorbs nicotine much more slowly, with the release taking up to 24 hours compared to the 30-60 minutes from nicotine pouches.

Nicotine Pouches

Based on the absorption rates outlined above, a user could expect to receive the following amounts of nicotine if they consumed a nicotine pouch with the stated contents:

• 3 mg — 0.75 mg
• 4 mg — 1 mg
• 6 mg — 1.5 mg
• 8 mg — 2 mg
• 10 mg — 2.5 mg

But remember, these are just rough estimations. As we’ll soon examine, the reality of absorption partly comes down to specifics.

Individual Factors

The body impacts absorption — and everyone’s works a little differently.

We mostly rely on the liver to metabolise nicotine, although the lungs, brain, kidneys, and respiratory membranes may also play a role. Some bodies metabolise faster than others, which affects absorption.

Body mass and genetic components may also play a role in how resistant we are to nicotine.

Plus, as someone uses more nicotine, their body’s response to the substance may change.

Differences Between Nicotine Pouches

Even the same person may absorb two nicotine pouches differently.

One factor is the pH level. When nicotine is slightly alkaline, the body absorbs it more efficiently. For this reason, manufacturers add pH stabilizers to nicotine pouches.

Another aspect that affects nicotine pouch strength and absorption is moisture content. Dry pouches release nicotine more slowly than moist pouches, and they also tend to have better absorption rates.

Finally, pouches with a larger surface area allow the mucous membranes to absorb more nicotine.

Absorbed All That?

Understanding nicotine absorption is an essential part of being able to select the right product and know how many nicotine pouches per day to consume. People generally absorb 25% to 30% of nicotine pouch contents, with the exact absorption rates depending on factors like the type of pouch used and the person using them.