Study Finds Vaping Harms the Microbiome and Raises Infection and Inflammation

Researchers have found that vaping e-cigarettes may alter the composition of the oral microbiome, leading to increased risks of inflammation, gum disease, and infections. Co-author of the study, Xin Li, an associate professor of basic sciences and craniofacial biology at New York University College of Dentistry, stated: “Given the prevalence of e-cigarettes, it is crucial that we understand more about how e-cigarette aerosols affect the oral microbiome and the host's inflammatory response to better understand the impact of vaping on human health.”

In their study, researchers examined the oral microbiomes of 119 individuals through oral examinations and saliva samples. Their population included regular e-cigarette users, smokers, and non-smokers. Although researchers found that the rate of gum disease and infections was highest among smokers at 72.5%, they discovered that e-cigarette users experienced gum disease or infections 42.5% of the time, compared to only 28.2% for non-smokers.

However, using a technique called 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to analyze saliva samples, researchers found that e-cigarette users had significantly higher levels of the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis (a known trigger for gum disease) compared to smokers and non-smokers.

Additionally, they found that e-cigarette users also had higher levels of cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β (substances known to induce inflammation). Co-senior author Deepak Saxena stated: “Our study indicates that vaping leads to changes in the oral environment and severely affects the colonization of complex microbial biofilms, thereby increasing the risk of oral inflammation and infections.”

As the vapor seems to cause oral inflammation, researchers say it may also lead to inflammation in other parts of the body, particularly in the respiratory tract. Furthermore, since poor oral health due to gum disease has been linked to other systemic diseases (such as diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer's disease), it is only a matter of time before smoking habits are also connected to these diseases.