Reducing smoking versus quitting has become a controversial topic among tobacco specialists. Some believe that cutting back on smoking is healthier than doing nothing, especially among heavy smokers.

A newly released study is the first to test the harm-reduction theory. The research conducted by the Mayo Clinic found that cutting back on smoking might not provide health benefits.

Researchers found levels of toxins in heavy smokers' bodies that didn't decrease when they cut smoking in half. "That's very important because what it means to the lay public is that if you reduce daily cigarettes, we're still not sure how much benefit you're going to get," said John R. Hughes, a University of Vermont smoking expert. "So don't fool yourself."

Dr. Richard Hurt, who led the research, said smokers in the study who cut back on cigarettes appeared to smoke their remaining cigarettes harder, trying to suck in more addictive nicotine from each one and consequently inhaling more carcinogens.

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