Even though nicotine is thought to calm inflammation, chewing nicotine gum after colon surgery didn't lower any of the blood markers of inflammation compared to regular gum.

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

Nicotine chewing gum for the prevention of postoperative ileus after colorectal surgery: a multicenter, double-blind, randomised, controlled pilot study

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2017 Sep

The study gave some patients nicotine gum and others regular gum after colon surgery and found that both groups had the same levels of inflammation markers—so the nicotine gum didn’t reduce inflammation like some thought it might.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Nicotine chewing gum for the prevention of postoperative ileus after colorectal surgery: a multicenter, double-blind, randomised, controlled pilot study

Score: 59

DOI: 10.1007/s00384-017-2839-z

Similar Assertions

The amount of nicotine in the gum might have been too low to have any real effect on bowel recovery or inflammation after surgery.

90%

After colon surgery, using nicotine gum doesn't seem to cause more heart problems, infections, or deaths than regular gum.

77%

People who chewed nicotine gum after colon surgery said their pain was a bit less on day 3, but they also got more pain medicine through their spine, so it’s unclear if the gum itself helped with pain.

76%

Chewing nicotine gum after colon surgery doesn't help your bowels start working again any faster than chewing regular gum.

75%

Just chewing gum after colon surgery helps your bowels start working again, whether the gum has nicotine or not.

72%