A study has found that the reason for failing to quit smoking may not simply be a lack of willpower but could be hidden in one’s genes.
South Korean Research Team Analyzes Genetic Correlation with Smoking Cessation Failure
According to Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital in South Korea on March 14, a joint research team comprising Park Jae Min from the Department of Family Medicine at Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital, Lee Ji Won from the Department of Family Medicine at Severance Hospital, and Director Hong Kyung Won from Theragen Health analyzed the genetic information of 4,364 Korean men and announced these findings.
The research team used data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study to categorize the subjects as 1,326 non-smokers, 1,684 former smokers, and 1,354 current smokers.
Subsequently, the team analyzed 1,644 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 12 genes related to nicotine metabolism to investigate the correlation between genetic variations and smoking cessation success rates. SNPs refer to genetic variations in which a single DNA sequence nucleotide is altered.
The results showed that six SNPs had a significant association with smoking cessation success.
Based on these six SNPs, the research team calculated genetic risk scores and found that higher scores were associated with a greater likelihood of remaining a smoker. This supports the notion that genetic factors play a crucial role in the success of quitting smoking.
The researchers suggest that this genetic risk score could predict an individual’s likelihood of successfully quitting smoking, allowing for personalized cessation strategies. For example, people with genetic profiles indicating rapid nicotine metabolism might experience more severe withdrawal symptoms, potentially requiring more intensive medication or additional counseling.
Lifestyle Factors Such as Alcohol Consumption and Exercise Also Significantly Impact Smoking Cessation Success
Lifestyle habits were also found to influence the success of quitting smoking.
The research team observed that current smokers consumed more alcohol on average weekly (219.8g) than former smokers (167.6g) and non-smokers (116.9g). Additionally, the proportion of individuals engaging in regular exercise was lower among current smokers (46.2%) than among former smokers (62.2%) and non-smokers (61.7%). This indicates that lifestyle habits and genetic factors collectively affect the success of smoking cessation.
Park emphasized, “The rate of nicotine metabolism significantly impacts smoking cessation success and varies based on genetic factors. This study is groundbreaking as it shifts focus from Western-centric research to developing tailored smoking cessation strategies for the Korean population.”
“We aim to reduce national healthcare costs and promote public health by continuing genomic research that reflects Korean characteristics and developing various personalized health management programs,” he added.
Meanwhile, these research findings can be found in the latest SCIE-indexed international journal, Lifestyle Genomics, in 2025.
