Study Finds Vaping Harms Mice Blood Vessels as Much as Traditional Cigarettes
When vaping first entered the market, it was sold as a safer alternative to smoking. But growing evidence suggests vaping may still cause harmful effects similar to cigarettes.
When e-cigarettes first appeared on the market, they were marketed as a safer alternative to smoking. Although e-cigarettes do contain fewer carcinogenic chemicals than cigarettes, there is increasing evidence that e-cigarettes may not avoid other harmful effects of smoking.
The study found that the damage to blood vessel function in mice from e-cigarettes is comparable to that from traditional cigarettes.
Now, a study led by Matthew L. Springer at the University of California, San Francisco, has found that in rats, the smoke from both e-cigarettes and cigarettes causes similar damage to vascular function, which is a predictor of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or heart disease.
Additionally, researchers found that Juul e-cigarettes contain significantly higher levels of the addictive substance nicotine per puff compared to cigarettes and previous generations of e-cigarettes.
Springer and his colleagues assessed three types of cigarettes: Virginia tobacco-flavored Juul e-cigarettes, box-style e-cigarettes, and Marlboro Red cigarettes. Each type was inhaled by eight anesthetized animals for 10 puffs within 5 minutes. The research team also tested inhaled air as a control.
Using an ultrasonic method previously developed in Springer's lab, the researchers observed the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in rats after inhalation, which is a marker of vascular function. FMD is a method of measuring the ability of blood vessels to expand in response to blood flow. They observed similar damage in the FMD of rats that inhaled Juul e-cigarettes, box-style e-cigarettes, and cigarettes.
The study found that the damage to blood vessel function in mice from e-cigarettes is comparable to that from traditional cigarettes.
Mark Olfert, a researcher at West Virginia University studying cardiovascular health, stated that while FMD dysfunction does not necessarily lead to cardiovascular disease, it is used as a predictor of disease. He noted that poor FMD is one of many factors, such as genetics or diet, that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases like stroke or atherosclerosis.
"This paper is very important because it essentially shows that blood vessels cannot distinguish whether animals or humans are smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes. The damage and harm appear to be the same," Olfert said.
He added that early animal studies like this are crucial because it may take decades to see the negative health impacts of e-cigarettes, which have only been around for about 13 years. He said: "(Animal studies) give us insight into the long-term responses we can expect to see in humans," he added that previous inhalation studies have shown that rodents are a good predictive model for the effects of smoking on humans.
The study found that the damage to blood vessel function in mice from e-cigarettes is comparable to that from traditional cigarettes.
The research team also found that by measuring the nicotine levels in the serum of the rats, the nicotine release from Juul e-cigarettes was five times that of cigarettes and eight times that of previous box-style e-cigarettes for the same number of puffs. Springer noted, however, that it is difficult to determine whether the increased nicotine release translates to humans, as an individual’s inhalation frequency may vary.
He pointed out that experienced adult smokers are more likely to stop smoking once they reach their desired nicotine level, while young smokers may not know their limits, meaning they may be exposed to higher levels of addictive substances. Juul's e-liquid contains nicotine in a salt form (nicotine salts), which makes the vapor less harsh on the throat and easier to inhale, which is believed to contribute to its popularity among young people.
Springer stated: "I think the people doing this research do not believe that e-cigarettes are as bad as cigarettes. The valuable lesson is that it is unwise to think that e-cigarettes are harmless."
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