Nicotine gum helps smokers in quitting the habit but gradually. According to a latest research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, it increases the probability of quitting smoking. Smokers who try to give up smoking not at once but gradually can trust nicotine- replacement gum.

The research was initiated and funded by GlaxoSmithKline. The company markets Nicorette -- the nicotine- replacement gum that was used in the research.

During the first two months, the smokers were asked to gradually decrease smoking and increase nicotine gum use. The ultimate goal of these people was to finally give up smoking.

A long- time smoking- cessation researcher Shiffman, who is also a consultant for GlaxoSmithKline, says most smokers who want to quit wish to do it gradually.

A study was conducted by the University of Pittsburgh professor of psychology and colleagues on almost 3,300 smokers from across the country. Each of the participants was interested in quitting smoking gradually instead of giving it up suddenly.

The smokers were given either nicotine gum or placebo. After six months it was found that smokers on active nicotine-replacement therapy were more likely to have given up the habit than those who chewed the placebo gum.

The study was limited to nicotine gum use for only six months. However, it is expected that many smokers would like to continue for a longer duration on the gum or other forms of nicotine-replacement therapy.