"The guinea pig is man": what is metatin, the nicotine derivative found in e-cigarettes?

Just days before No Tobacco Day, which will be held on May 31, the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT) is warning about the use of metatin in e-cigarettes . Praised as being nicotine-free and, above all, "healthier" for vapers, this molecule is flooding social media and is already making some brands, such as Aroma King, successful.

Faced with "the worrying emergence and promotion," the CNCT announced Monday that it was filing a complaint against the manufacturer for illegal advertising and called for tougher regulations on this type of product, which is likely to "mislead consumers." So, what is metatin?

6-Methylnicotine, or "metatin," is a synthetic nicotine-like molecule recently used in vaping products and oral pouches. Created from a chemical modification of nicotine, its structure is sufficiently different that it is not strictly classified as nicotine.

Although a metatin e-cigarette does not contain nicotine, it does not represent a healthier alternative, as no medical verification has been carried out to date.

"It (the product, editor's note) acts in the same way as nicotine on the brain's dopamine receptors, both stimulating and addictive," explains Amélie Eschenbrenner, spokesperson for the CNCT, to BFMTV.

The addictive potential of metatin is even up to three times greater than that of nicotine, according to preclinical studies, reports the anti-smoking association.

Metatin has been identified in some vaping products sold in France and elsewhere in Europe since 2024. Unlike tobacco and nicotine, there are currently few studies on the effects of this new substance given its recent appearance.

"There is a risk of addiction becoming more easily established, but we are not certain. Studies need to be done, given that nicotine is already one of the most addictive substances we know of: more so than heroin," Anne Batisse, head of the Paris addiction monitoring center, told AFP.

"The problem with these new synthetic products is that they have never been studied, or very little, in animals, so basically, the guinea pig is humans," she adds.

While e-cigarettes can be considered a smoking cessation aid, nicotine remains "the solution to quitting tobacco," explains Dr. Marion Adler, a tobacco specialist, on the set of BFMTV. Although nicotine is addictive, it is non-toxic, unlike tobacco, whose "smoke contains 4,000 toxic substances," explains Marion Adler. These include carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and tar.

For the CNCT, the choice of metanin in e-cigarettes is also not insignificant. It allows manufacturers to avoid certain regulations already in force on conventional nicotine products.

Green apple flavor, blueberry ice cream, peach tea, or even bubble gum... The marketing strategy for metatin-based products is particularly aimed at young consumers.

Some websites selling Aroma King products, for example, promote the "pleasant taste" of their puffs (disposable e-cigarettes), which provide "an intense taste experience." They are also presented as a device intended for vapers wishing to quit nicotine, "an addictive substance."

"The marketing of these products is really aimed at young people, through the flavors and the use of influencers. There is a risk of addiction that is even greater among young people," Amélie Eschenbrenner of the CNCT told BFMTV.

In France, Article L3513-4 prohibits any advertising that encourages the use of e-cigarettes by giving a false impression about their "health effects" or that "suggests that the product is less harmful than others." The law also prohibits manufacturers from using advertisements that arouse the curiosity of children. Finally, since February 26, 2025, it has been illegal to sell or offer disposable e-cigarettes, commonly known as "puffs," for free.