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Why Are Nic Salts Better?

Published 28 July 2022, Updated 10 April 2024

Why Are Nic Salts Better?

Why Are Nic Salts Better?

Nicotine salts offer a higher dosage of nicotine and faster absorption into the bloodstream satisfying your nicotine craving quicker. Nicotine salts were developed in the year 2015. Before this invention, the e-liquid market had only used freebase nicotine.

Freebase nicotine is the same nicotine that is used in nicotine gum, patches, old-style vaporisers, nasal sprays and other smoking cessation tools. Pax Labs, who brought the world JUUL, developed salt nic by adding organic acids to their e-liquid, changing their chemical compound from slightly alkaline to slightly acidic.

This chemical alteration had a few main effects on the nicotine-containing vape juice. Firstly, higher concentrations of nicotine-containing e-liquid were achievable. Secondly, they were absorbed into the bloodstream faster than freebase nicotine, and finally, they provided a much smoother throat hit than their free-base counterparts.

A scientific study published in 2021 looked at the effect of exposure to e-cigarettes containing salt nicotine vs free base on the appeal and sensory experience of vaping. The clinical study set out to test the hypothesis that nicotine salt e-liquid would increase the user-reported appeal and boost the sensory attributes of vaping.

The study's results indicated the nicotine salt e-liquid did indeed improve the appeal and sensory experience of vaping; its participants reported a smoother throat hit and less bitterness when compared to freebase-containing e-liquid.

If you're looking for a range of nic salts to provide you with a smooth throat hit, then check out the Juice N Power nic salt e-liquids, which are available in 5mg, 11mg and 20mg nicotine strengths.

Is Salt NIC healthier?

Nicotine salt is just another type of liquid nicotine used in nicotine-containing e-liquid, it is definitely less harmful than tobacco, but when compared to freebase nicotine, both have exhibited different effects on the human body. 

One thing is certain; more scientific research must be conducted to fully examine and understand the effects of freebase nicotine and salt nicotine on the body.

There haven't been many scientific studies comparing the health effects of nicotine salt and freebase nicotine. However, a study which looked at the safety profile of salt nicotine revealed that no adverse effects on health were observed during the study.

The study revealed that nicotine salt was the most similar to replicating nicotine delivery in combustible cigarettes. In fact, clinical studies have shown that using nicotine salt when switching from smoking traditional cigarettes to vaping is more effective and appealing. 

This is probably down to a couple of main attributes of salt nicotine factors which are direct results of the benzoic (or citric) acid added to nicotine. These are smoother throat hits, as well as faster absorption into the bloodstream. In addition to those, the higher achievable concentrations of salt nic assist when smokers are trying to quit smoking cigarettes.

If you are new to vaping and you try a free base nicotine-containing e-liquid, you will most likely be put off the experience as these tend to be much harsher on the throat and a bit more bitter.

Another study looked at pod mod devices, which typically use nicotine salt as opposed to freebase nicotine Vs conventional e-cigarettes have shown that e-cigarettes containing nicotine salts would potentially lead to more detrimental effects on the lung, whereas freebase nicotine e-liquids would lead to more systemic effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. More scientific research is required to fully understand the effects of the two different types of nicotine on the body.

Why is salt nicotine worse for you?

Both nicotine salts and freebase nicotine have different effects on the body. Whilst one is not worse for you, freebase nicotine and salt nicotine are substantially less harmful to you than combustible tobacco. 

More scientific research needs to be conducted on the effects of these 2 different types of liquid nicotine used within vapes on the human body.

According to a recent scientific study, nicotine salt can alter the inflammatory response of the epithelium cells in the lungs, which in turn could potentially increase the risk of lung illnesses.

Another scientific study looking at the effects of nicotine salt on a cellular level showed that vapourising nicotine salt-based e-liquid causes cytotoxicity (toxic to cells) and elevates cytoplasm (a gelatinous liquid that is within all cells).

Explore our full catalogue of nic salts at IndeJuice.

Learn more with our article is salt nic better than regular vape juice?

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