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10 functional health predictions for 2024, according to a doctor and a wellness expert

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10 functional health predictions for 2024, according to a doctor and a wellness expert

Heading into a new year, we all want to stay as healthy as possible — and some doctors believe that identifying and eliminating the issues that cause disease are critical actions to take, as opposed to treating and reacting to symptoms afterward. 

Known as “functional medicine,” this alternative form of health care has drawn mixed reviews over the years. 

Some claim it lacks scientific evidence and that the treatments aren’t standardized. Yet some studies — including one by Cleveland Clinic — have found that functional medicine was associated with improvements in health-related quality of life. 

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Shilpa P. Saxena, M.D., chief medical officer of Forum Health in Tampa, Florida, shared with Fox News Digital the 10 functional health trends she expects will see growth in 2024.

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Melanie Avalon, a health influencer, entrepreneur and biohacker based in Atlanta, Georgia, also weighed in on these emerging trends.

1. Preventative assessments

Identifying the earliest signs of disease or dysfunction, functional medicine doctors believe, is key to managing health imbalances, said Saxena.  

“Whether it’s genomics, hormones, microbiome assessments or nutrition-oriented physical examination, better information leads to bigger transformation,” she told Fox News Digital.

Preventative cancer screenings have given at least 12 million more years of life and have saved at least $6.5 trillion in added economic impact, according to a recent study. (iStock)

The conventional medical system typically approaches disease and illness retroactively, often by prescribing drugs for conditions defined by an active barometer — such as medication for diabetes, statins for problematic cholesterol and chemotherapy for late-stage cancer, Avalon agreed.

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“A paradigm shift toward diagnostics, which can establish earlier benchmarks for disease pathways, will be key to the shift from disease management to disease prevention,” she told Fox News Digital.

2. Proactive versus reactive care

Preventative cancer screenings have given Americans at least 12 million more years of life and saved at least $6.5 trillion in added economic impact, according to a recent study published in BMC Health Services Research.

“Savvy patients are figuring out that waiting for an issue to be ‘bad enough’ to warrant a mediocre treatment isn’t a wise strategy for long-term health,” Saxena said. 

Lung cancer scan

The “trifecta of data, AI algorithms and a human eye when appropriate transforms what could be an overwhelming pool of information into applicable, personalized action steps,” Avalon said. (iStock)

“More patients are turning to functional and integrative medicine providers who understand that early detection and prevention are smarter, more sustainable strategies for well-being.”

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Patients should take an active role in understanding their own risk factors — and take action to mitigate them, said Avalon.

“Savvy patients are figuring out that waiting for an issue to be ‘bad enough’ to warrant a mediocre treatment isn’t a wise strategy for long-term health.”

As an example, “a person with a genetic tendency for Alzheimer’s disease can work with functional and integrative medicine providers, and implement lifestyle and biohacking techniques to reduce the chances of developing cognitive decline,” she said.

3. Wearables and data-driven change

Wearing a wristband, watch or ring that monitors vital health information is becoming mainstream, Saxena said. 

“Not long ago, devices like these were targeted at health enthusiasts, but now we will see progressive medical offices asking to synchronize your wearable’s data to guide your care plan and track your response to it along the way,” she predicted.

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Apple Watch

Wearing a wristband, watch or ring that monitors vital health information is becoming mainstream, one health expert said.   (Reuters)

Avalon said she is “thrilled” that today’s wearable devices are providing doctors with a more detailed, comprehensive overview of their patients, “beyond the snapshot of a doctor’s office.”

She added, “These wearables are also excellent for prevention, as they can often identify changes in a person’s biology indicating a path toward illness before the person feels acutely sick, allowing them to rest and potentially fight off illness before it takes over.”

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Heading into 2024, Avalon predicted that wearables may also become pertinent in the pet sphere, allowing cat and dog owners to better identify and tackle illness in their furry loved ones.

4. Smartphone apps

As more people advocate for their own health care, there’s been a proliferation of apps that can track virtually any aspect of wellness, Saxena noted — “anything from your next anticipated period, if you’re in atrial fibrillation, or how many carbs are in the smoothie you’re about to consume,” she said.  

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“Access to information is pushing the patient into the driver’s seat.”

Stock photo shows woman checking health app on smartphone

As more people become interested in advocating for their own health care, a proliferation of apps can track virtually any aspect of their wellness. (CyberGuy.com)

As Avalon pointed out, many apps use artificial intelligence to help users keep track of and interpret their data, whether it’s monitoring bloodwork, tracking carb and fat-burning data or testing blood glucose levels.

“Some apps even provide access to personalized human help within the app,” she said.

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“This trifecta of data, AI algorithms and a human eye when appropriate transforms what could be an overwhelming pool of information into applicable, personalized action steps.”

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5. Regenerative medicine

Saxena predicted that in 2024, there will be a growth in, and demand for, regenerative medicine — the practice of enabling the body to “repair, regenerate and restore itself to a state of well-being,” as defined by Mayo Clinic.

“Access to information is pushing the patient into the driver’s seat.”

“With functional medicine, you can choose to take your own stem cells and inject them back into your knee and literally regrow cartilage to experience dramatically less pain and increased function,” Saxena said, as an example. 

“Options like these are available for some of the most common degenerative diseases and make procedures like knee replacements with clunky hardware look like antiquated procedures.”

Woman doc exam

Identifying and eliminating the issues that cause disease will become critical — rather than just treating the symptoms afterward.  (iStock)

While there has been some controversy surrounding stem cell treatments, Avalon noted, she said she believes there is “enormous regenerative potential within our very bodies.”

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“The advent and evolution of endogenous stem cell-releasing supplements may also provide a pathway to support the healing power of stem cells,” she predicted.

6. IV therapies

Hydration IV bars have grown in popularity in recent years — but beyond one-size-fits-all treatments, Saxena said she foresees greater demand for more tailored IV therapies next year.

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“Functional health care professionals can select from a menu of research-driven innovative therapies that utilize strategic nutrients, ultraviolet light and ozone delivered directly into the bloodstream to reduce inflammation, remove persistent infections, resolve autoimmunity and remove toxins — all carefully prescribed to heal the patient during each stage of their recovery journey,” she told Fox News Digital.

woman with IV

Hydration IV bars have grown in popularity in recent years; the year 2024 may see even greater demand for more tailored IV therapies. (iStock)

While Avalon said she believes IV therapy has a “great potential benefit” in supporting health and combating disease, she recommended that patients “do their homework” and make sure they’re working with a knowledgeable practitioner. 

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“In particular, are they receiving the nutrients and therapies appropriate for them, in the most effective and cost-sensitive way possible?” 

7. Gut health

Gut health has long been recognized as a major factor in overall wellness, as the balance of bacteria within the digestive system impacts everything from the immune system to cardiovascular risk.

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“Old becomes new again as functional medicine leverages ancient healing systems’ evidence alongside modern scientific research,” Saxena predicted. 

“Connections between the gut microbiome, immunity and brain performance are opportunities that promise improved protection from some of the most feared consequences of disease and aging.”

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Gut health split

Gut health has long been recognized as a major factor in overall wellness, as the balance of bacteria within the digestive system impacts everything from the immune system to cardiovascular risk. (iStock)

“Modern medicine is finally catching up to what ancient wisdom has known for centuries — that health and disease often starts in the gut,” Avalon added. 

8. Metabolic dysfunction

Sugar, obesity and insulin resistance will continue to be revealed as the “undiagnosed causes of disease and death for almost every adult in America,” Saxena predicted.

In addition to using traditional medications to keep disease at bay, the doctor said that functional medicine will help patients make the necessary lifestyle choices to “correct the cause and enhance the health of every single cell in the body.”

“Modern medicine is finally catching up to what ancient wisdom has known for centuries — that health and disease often starts in the gut.”

Even simple lifestyle changes can have profound effects on metabolic health, Avalon agreed, “which itself is often the foundation for many subsequent diseases.”

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To prevent and potentially reverse metabolic syndrome, Avalon recommended embracing a whole-foods diet, practicing time-restricted eating, getting proper sleep and ensuring daily exercise. 

Healthy living

Even simple lifestyle changes can have profound effects on metabolic health, “which itself is often the foundation for many subsequent diseases.” (iStock)

“Better yet, optimizing just one of these areas often leads to a snowball effect, inspiring vitality in the other areas as well,” she told Fox News Digital.

9. Disease-reversing devices

Historically, prescriptions and procedures have been the mainstay of insurance-covered care, Saxena noted.  

Red light therapy

A myriad of devices can help support optimal physical and mental health and wellness, including red light therapy. (iStock)

“While getting coverage for the latest ‘wonder’ drug may feel like winning the lottery, functional medicine patients will be employing the latest innovations in neurofeedback, pulsed electromagnetic field or vagal nerve stimulation to counteract the effects of everything from post-COVID heart disease to stress-related cognitive decline,” she predicted.

As a biohacker, Avalon relies on a myriad of devices to help support optimal physical and mental health and wellness. 

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“I personally use many of these devices — from sound wave therapy, to red and NIR light, to fNIRS neurofeedback — to fight insomnia, reduce my stress levels, combat anxiety and boost physical performance,” she told Fox News Digital.

10. Demand for better health care

In 2024, Saxena said she believes consumers will invest more in their health and demand better care. 

Patient and doctor

In 2024, consumers will invest more in their health and demand better care, predicted one doctor.  (iStock)

“They will be more willing to pay out of pocket to receive personalized care, price transparency and the freedom to try the latest therapies and treatments without restriction from insurance companies,” she predicted. 

“More consumers will start realizing that receiving proper care will be less expensive in the end than to suffer from the same condition for years without the underlying condition ever being addressed.”

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With the increasing amount of health information accessible to the general population, Avalon said there’s been a growing demand for more personalized care. 

“Unless or until we have a medical and insurance system truly based on disease prevention, patients are going to need to continue to pursue access via their wallet to proper comprehensive and individualized health care,” she said.

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Mom’s Gripes About Sister-in-Law Put Daughter in a Bind

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Mom’s Gripes About Sister-in-Law Put Daughter in a Bind

My mother is hypercritical of my brother’s wife, to the point that she blames my sister-in-law for my brother’s “failings” (not getting a better job, not taking better care of his health, etc.). It has gotten worse now that there are grandchildren. My mother constantly criticizes how my sister-in-law is raising the kids, who are lovely and adore their grandparents.

Although my mother will occasionally raise criticisms with my sister-in-law and brother, I am mostly her audience.

I have a great relationship with my sister-in-law, and when my mother goes off on one of her rants, I defend her. I tell my mother how lucky she is to have such wonderful grandchildren, and point out that my brother is an adult who makes his own decisions. This just leads to an argument between my mother and me.

When I finally told my mother how much it hurts me to hear her say these things about my sister-in-law, she said that she needed to air her frustrations with someone. I want to be there for my mother, but I don’t like being put in this position. How do I navigate this?

From the Therapist: The short answer to your question is that you can navigate this by no longer engaging in these conversations. But I imagine you already know this. What you might be less aware of is that you aren’t being “put in this position” of supportive daughter, protective sister-in-law and unwilling confidante. You’ve chosen it, and it’s worth examining why you’ve signed up for a job you don’t want — and what makes it hard to resign.

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Usually when we find ourselves repeatedly engaging in uncomfortable family patterns, it’s because they echo familiar roles from our childhood. It sounds as if you’re struggling with enmeshment, a relationship pattern in which boundaries between family members become blurred or are nonexistent.

Think of enmeshment as being like two trees that have grown so close together that their branches have become intertwined. While this might look like closeness, it actually prevents either tree from growing in a healthy way. In your case, your mother’s emotions and grievances have become so entangled with your own emotional life that it’s hard to distinguish where her feelings end and yours begin.

You mention wanting to “be there” for your mom even though these conversations hurt you. Many adult children who struggle to say no to their parents grew up serving as their parents’ emotional support system, or absorbing their parents’ feelings, even at the expense of their own. When you told your mother how much her venting hurt you, she responded not by acknowledging your feelings, but by asserting her need to “air her frustrations.” Her response reveals something important: She sees you as a vessel for her emotional overflow rather than as someone with valid feelings of your own. And yet, despite your hurt, you’re still more concerned about her feelings than yours.

You’re asking how to navigate this situation, but I think the deeper question is: How can you begin to value your own emotional needs?

You can start by reframing what it means to make a reasonable request, which is essentially what setting a boundary is. A boundary isn’t about pushing someone away. Instead, it’s about making a bid for connection. It’s saying:I want to feel good being close to you, but when you do X, it makes me want to avoid you. Help me come closer.”

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Establishing a boundary consists of three steps:

  • State the issue and the desire to come closer (what will make this possible): “Mom, I love you and want to support you, but these conversations about my sister-in-law put me in an impossible position and make me want to avoid talking with you, which I know isn’t what either of us wants. I’m happy to talk about other things together, but in order to keep our relationship strong, I need this topic to be off limits.”

  • Set the boundary (what you will do): “If you’re struggling with their choices, I’m happy to support you in finding a therapist who can help you work through these feelings. But if you bring up these frustrations with me, I’m going to end the conversation and we can talk another time about other things.”

  • Hold the boundary (do what you say): A boundary isn’t about what the other person will or won’t do. A boundary is a contract with yourself. If you say you’ll end the conversation when your mom brings up your sister-in-law, you need to hold that boundary every single time. If you end the conversation only 90 percent of the time, then why would the other person honor your request when 10 percent of the time, you can’t honor it yourself? Honoring your request might sound like: “Mom, I’m going to end the conversation now because I’m not comfortable talking about my sister-in-law. I love you, and we’ll talk later.”

If you start to feel guilty, remember that just because someone sends you guilt doesn’t mean you have to accept delivery. Remind yourself that when you become your mother’s outlet for criticism of your sister-in-law, you’re participating in a cycle that strains loyalties and causes you personal distress. And keep in mind that being a good daughter means setting boundaries that encourage our parents to grow, rather than enabling patterns that harm our family relationships.

Want to Ask the Therapist? If you have a question, email askthetherapist@nytimes.com. By submitting a query, you agree to our reader submission terms. This column is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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Cancer death rates decline yet new diagnoses spike for some groups, says report

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Cancer death rates decline yet new diagnoses spike for some groups, says report

A major annual cancer report has revealed a mix of good news and points of concern.

Cancer diagnoses are expected to exceed two million in 2025, with approximately 618,120 deaths predicted, according to the American Cancer Society’s annual cancer trends report, which was published today in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

ACS researchers compiled data from central cancer registries and from the National Center for Health Statistics.

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While mortality rates have declined, certain groups are seeing a spike in diagnoses, the report noted.

Cancer diagnoses are expected to exceed two million in 2025, with approximately 618,120 deaths predicted. (iStock)

“Continued reductions in cancer mortality because of drops in smoking, better treatment and earlier detection is certainly great news,” said lead author Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the ACS in Georgia, in a press release.

“However, this progress is tempered by rising incidences in young and middle-aged women, who are often the family caregivers, and a shifting cancer burden from men to women, harkening back to the early 1900s, when cancer was more common in women.”

Overall decline in death rates

Cancer death rates dropped 34% between 1991 and 2022, according to the ACS report.

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That equates to approximately 4.5 million deaths avoided due to early detection, reductions in smoking, and improvements in treatment, the report stated.

Cancer death rates dropped 34% between 1991 and 2022.

Several factors likely contributed to this decline, noted John D. Carpten, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at City of Hope, a national cancer research and treatment organization in California.

“I think a big one is smoking cessation and the battle against lung cancer, which has always been the most common form of cancer and is tied to tobacco use,” Carpten told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview.

Cancer screenings

“Screening programs are a critical component of early detection, and expanding access to these services will save countless lives.” (iStock)

“But without a doubt, I think new and better methods for early detection, and screening for colorectal cancer and other forms of the disease, have also allowed us to see a decrease.” 

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Lifestyle improvements have also helped to decrease mortality, he said, along with the development of new and better therapies for cancer.

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Despite overall declines in mortality, the report revealed that death rates are rising for cancers of the oral cavity, pancreas, uterine corpus and liver (for females).

Some common cancers have also seen an increase in diagnoses, including breast (female), prostate, pancreatic, uterine corpus, melanoma (female), liver (female) and oral cancers associated with the human papillomavirus, the report stated.

Increased diagnoses among certain groups

Diagnoses for many cancer types are increasing among certain groups.

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Cancer rates for women 50 to 64 years of age have surpassed those for men, the report revealed. For women under 50, rates are 82% higher than males in that age group.

Doctor with cancer patient

The report revealed that diagnoses of colorectal cancer in men and women under 65 and cervical cancer in women between 30 and 44 years of age has increased. (iStock)

As far as what is influencing the “disconcerting trend” in women’s cancers, Carpten said it is likely “highly nuanced” and will require additional research.

“The decrease in fertility and increases in obesity that we’ve seen are risk factors for breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal middle-aged women,” he said. 

“But there could be other modifiable risk factors at play, like alcohol and physical activity.”

Cancer rates for women 50 to 64 years of age have surpassed those for men.

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Another trend in the increase in early cancers is occurring in individuals under the age of 50, Carpten noted.

In particular, the report revealed that diagnoses of colorectal cancer in men and women under 65 and cervical cancer in women between 30 and 44 years of age has increased.

Woman cancer mother

Some common cancers have also seen an increase in diagnoses, including breast (female), prostate, pancreatic, uterine corpus, melanoma (female), liver (female) and oral cancers associated with the human papillomavirus. (iStock)

The report also discusses inequities in cancer rates among certain ethnic groups, with Native American and Black people experiencing higher diagnoses of some cancer types.

“Progress against cancer continues to be hampered by striking, wide static disparities for many racial and ethnic groups,” said senior author Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science at the ACS, in the release.

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The report shows mixed trends for children, with diagnoses declining in recent years for patients 14 years of age and younger, but rising for adolescents between 15 and 19.

“Mortality rates have dropped by 70% in children and by 63% in adolescents since 1970, largely because of improved treatment for leukemia,” the ACS stated in the release.

Pancreatic cancer a growing concern

The ACS report also warns about “lagging progress” against pancreatic cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. 

pancreatic cancer 3D rendering

The ACS report also warns about “lagging progress” against pancreatic cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.  (iStock)

Rates of diagnoses and deaths from the disease type are on the rise.

“Pancreatic is an incredibly deadly form of cancer,” Carpten said. 

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One of the main issues with pancreatic cancer, he said, is that it sometimes can grow in an individual for up to 10 years before it’s detected.

“If we can identify those cancers when they’re at at a curable stage, we can improve outcomes.”

One of the best opportunities for beating pancreatic cancer is early detection, Carpten said. 

“By the time those cancers have advanced, they’ve spread to the liver or other organs, and they’re almost impossible to cure at that stage,” he said.

      

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“If we can identify those cancers when they’re at a curable stage, we can improve outcomes.”

‘It takes a village’

Making progress in fighting cancer “takes a village,” Carpten told Fox News Digital.

“It will require partnerships between the community, the health care system, cancer researchers, government, industry — we all have to work together if we want to continue to see a decrease and an ultimate increase in cures,” he said.

young doctor researches in lab

“We all have to work together if we want to continue to see a decrease and an ultimate increase in cures,” a cancer researcher said. (iStock)

Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), stated that the report highlights the need to “increase investment in both cancer treatment and care, including equitable screening programs.”

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“Screening programs are a critical component of early detection, and expanding access to these services will save countless lives,” he said in the release.

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“We also must address these shifts in cancer incidence, mainly among women. A concerted effort between health care providers, policymakers and communities needs to be prioritized to assess where and why mortality rates are rising.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the ACS for further comment.

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FDA Moves Forward With Last-Minute Push to Cut Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

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FDA Moves Forward With Last-Minute Push to Cut Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

The Biden administration unveiled a proposal on Wednesday to cut the level of nicotine in cigarettes, a last-minute push on a plan that could meaningfully cut cancer rates nationwide and extend the lives of millions of cigarette smokers.

If finalized, the proposal would require cigarette makers to significantly reduce the levels of nicotine in their products in an effort to make smoking less addictive and less satisfying. Research has suggested that the move would result in fewer people taking up the habit and would help the nation’s roughly 30 million smokers quit or switch to less harmful alternatives like e-cigarettes.

The policy is a centerpiece of antismoking initiatives by Dr. Robert Califf, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who has recounted treating cardiology patients ravaged by smoking during his medical career.

“It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever seen in terms of societal benefit, cost saving and lives saved, and strokes prevented and cancers prevented,” Dr. Califf said.

The policy’s companion effort to ban menthol cigarettes has been set aside indefinitely after vehement opposition from cigarette makers and other opponents, including convenience store retailers.

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Whether the nicotine reduction plan would survive the incoming administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump is unclear. Mr. Trump has traditionally been industry friendly and opposed to heavily regulating businesses. In addition, he has had the support of tobacco companies, including Reynolds American, which contributed at least $8 million to Mr. Trump’s main super PAC during the presidential campaign. Reynolds has already expressed its opposition to the proposed requirement.

Mr. Trump’s campaign co-chair and incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is a former lobbyist for Swisher, a company that makes cigars. The rule applies to cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco and cigars (though not premium cigars).

Some public health advocates are holding out hope that the Trump administration will allow the proposal to move forward, given that a previous version was considered by the F.D.A. during his first term. At minimum, officials could continue to allow the public to comment on the initiative without killing it or putting it into effect.

The F.D.A.’s proposal includes projections that by 2100, the nicotine reduction measure would prevent an estimated 48 million young people from starting to smoke. By 2060, the agency also estimates that 1.8 million tobacco-related deaths would be prevented, and that $30 trillion in benefits would accrue over 40 years, mostly from the generation that would not begin smoking.

“We do have an extremely toxic and addictive product with cigarettes that remain on the marketplace, that still kills almost a half a million people a year,” said Dorothy Hatsukami, a tobacco researcher from the University of Minnesota who has studied low-nicotine cigarettes for about 15 years. “So it’s really kind of an unfortunate situation that we haven’t really done anything dramatically about it.”

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In 2022, Dr. Califf released an updated proposal to lower nicotine levels, and opposition began to grow almost immediately.

Tobacco companies have viewed the initiative as a major threat to their business. Luis Pinto, a spokesman for Reynolds American, said the proposal would “effectively eliminate legal cigarettes and fuel an already massive illicit nicotine market.”

“These actions would also have a significant negative economic impact on farmers, retailers and others,” he added.

Convenience store retailers have also opposed earlier versions of the proposal, saying they would sustain substantial losses in revenue from a projected decline in cigarette sales.

Congressional Republicans have also tried to thwart restrictions on nicotine levels. In 2023, members of an influential House subcommittee passed a measure that would have prevented the F.D.A. from spending any money to advance limits on nicotine, with nearly all of the supporting votes by Republicans. The Senate did not include the provision in a final budget package.

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Still, supporters of the plan point to signs that incoming public health officials may be receptive to it, including to the popularity of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pledge to tackle chronic diseases and improve the health of Americans if he is confirmed to lead the nation’s top health agency. Mr. Trump himself has said that he is personally opposed to cigarette smoking.

“Given these enormous benefits, we urge the incoming Trump administration to move forward in finalizing and implementing this rule,” Yolonda C. Richardson, the president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement. “Few actions would do more to fight chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease that greatly undermine health in the United States, and that the incoming administration has indicated should be a priority to address.”

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