Food Science and Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P06-018-25) Association of Lifestyle and Dietary Habits With Alternative Tobacco and Nicotine Product Use and Intention to Use: Findings From the Italian MINERVA Project

Saturday, May 31, 2025

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM ET

Location: Poster Board A-54

Presenting Author(s)

Dario Gregori (he/him/his)

Full Professor of biostatistics
University of Padova
Padova, Veneto, Italy

Co-Author(s)

NK

Noor Muhammad Khan

University of Padova, Bangladesh
HO

Honoria Ocagli

University of Padova, Italy
DA

Danila Azzolina, Ms

University of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
MM

Matteo Martinato

University of Padova, Italy
GL

Giulia Lorenzoni

Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health (University of Padova)

Disclosure(s):

Dario Gregori: Pork Industries: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)

Objectives: Alternative tobacco and nicotine products (ATNPs) are widely marketed as reduced-risk alternatives to traditional tobacco. However, their increasing popularity, especially among adolescents and young adults who are non-smokers, raises concerns about nicotine dependence and associations with unhealthy behaviors. This study investigates the relationship between dietary and lifestyle habits and ATNP use or intention to use, based on the Italian data from the MINERVA international project.

Methods: The MINERVA project is an observational, prospective, and international cohort study involving participants aged 18–99 years. Data are collected via an online questionnaire assessing socio-demographics, smoking habits, dietary behaviors, and lifestyle factors. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of ATNP use and intention to use. Results were reported as Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI).

Results: The MINERVA enrolled 7,535 subjects in Italy. Key predictors of ATNP intention to use in non-smokers included younger age (nonlinear association, p< 0.001), prior smoking (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09-1.99), and family members who smoke (OR 4.39, 95% CI 3.55-5.44). Lifestyle factors, such as frequent fast-food consumption (OR 2.67, 95% CI 2.01-3.52) and alcohol intake (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.32-2.42), were positively associated with ATNP use. In contrast, daily consumption of vegetables was protective (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60-0.93). Similar trends were observed for the intention to use ATNPs.

Conclusions: This study highlights the association of ATNP use and intention to use with a general pattern of potentially unhealthy behaviors, including poor dietary habits and alcohol consumption. These findings underline the need for integrated public health strategies addressing both smoking prevention and broader lifestyle factors.

Funding Sources: N/A