A new scientific study has been published on diabetes and snus: Smokeless tobacco (snus) is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes: results from five pooled cohorts. The study purports to show an increased risk for heavy snus users regarding age-related diabetes. Among normal snus users, however, no increase in risk was seen. It is well worth noting that the risk of developing diabetes first and foremost applies to heavy snus users in the region where the study was conducted, Västerbotten, Sweden. No other places were examined. It is therefore reasonable to assume that there are other explanations for ill health in Västerbotten than snus alone.

The combined scientific documentation on snus and gestational diabetes shows that there are six recently published studies that show no increase in risk, while in one study there is an increase in risk among those who use more than five cans of snus per week. The latter study is based on material from Västerbotten. It is unclear why this study differs from the other six. This may be because researchers have not been able to fully correct for other factors known to be linked to the risk of age-related diabetes such as diet, lifestyle, and obesity.

When six studies say one thing and there is a seventh that says another, I think one should be very careful to draw any far-reaching conclusions. The only study that shows a connection is from Västerbotten, and thus includes only one examined cohort (group), and there can of course be other explanations for diabetes than snus consumption. This hardly changes the picture of the current state of research on the subject.

Patrik Strömer, Secretary General of the Association of Swedish Snus Manufacturers

Read Swedish media reporting on the scientific article on snus and gestational diabetes here.

Read Patrik Strömer’s comment on Swedish broadcaster SVT here.