What the Science Says About Metatine, A New Synthetic Nicotine

• Metatine is a synthetic chemical cousin of nicotine, created in laboratories.
• It's primarily used in vaping products, promoted as an alternative to nicotine.
• Recent research shows Metatine increases harmful oxidative stress in cells.
• Human lung cells experience more damage from Metatine compared to regular nicotine.
• Despite marketing claims, Metatine may actually be less safe than traditional nicotine. 

Traditional nicotine is a naturally occurring compound found in plants. It is an alkaloid, which means that it contains nitrogen atoms in a ring structure (a pyridine ring). 

Metatine is the commercial name for a chemical called 6-Methyl Nicotine (6-MN), a synthetic analogue of nicotine. A synthetic analogue is like a chemical cousin to the original substance—it has a similar structure, but there are some slight differences. 

In contrast to nicotine, 6-Methyl Nicotine is synthetic, meaning that is it not found in nature but is created artificially in a laboratory.

Metatine (6-MN) is made synthetically in laboratory settings, typically by chemically modifying nicotine or similar alkaloids.  

To make metatine, the process of “methylation” takes place. This happens when a methyl group—a small cluster of carbon and hydrogen atoms—is added to nicotine at a specific position on its structure. 

The result is 6-Methyl Nicotine, which shares some properties with regular nicotine, such as the ability to attach to certain brain receptors. However, it may behave differently in the body due to its modified structure.

Metatine has primarily been marketed and used in vape products and experimental stimulants, often as a supposed “alternative” to nicotine. 

It may be used for its psychoactive or stimulant effects, potentially providing similar stimulation to traditional nicotine without technically being classified as nicotine.

A recent study by Effah et al. (2025) investigated the biological effects of metatine/6-MN.¹ 

Their study found that 6-MN aerosol exposure led to oxidative stress, which means that it generates harmful chemicals called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These substances can damage cells and DNA.

The study also revealed that human lung cells exposed to Metatine had higher levels of cytotoxicity (indicating how lethal a substance is to cells) compared to cells exposed to regular nicotine.

The study highlights an important point.

While regular nicotine is relatively harmless (though it is often deemed harmful due to its association with cigarette smoke), 6-MN might carry its own inherent chemical risks, even when delivered without smoke (for example, by vaping).

In conclusion, though Metatine is chemically similar to nicotine and is marketed as an alternative, current scientific evidence suggests that this substance could be more harmful at a cellular level.

Therefore, Metatine should not be assumed to be a safer option than traditional nicotine.