A new study from the medical faculty at Stanford University has found that e-cigarettes, often touted as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, are actually a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The study found that e-cigarette vapor can cause damage to the cells in blood vessels and the heart, particularly when using liquids with cinnamon and menthol flavors. While e-cigarette vapor contains fewer harmful substances than tobacco smoke, it still contains solvents, additives, and high levels of nicotine and flavorings that can be harmful to health. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that the flavors added to e-cigarette liquids were responsible for damaging the cells in blood vessels and the heart. Depending on the composition of the liquid, cell growth can be restricted, inflammation can occur more frequently and more severely, and some liquids have even led to cell death in the cultures used in the study.
To investigate the effects of e-cigarette liquids and their potential to cause cell damage, the researchers grew cell cultures from human endothelial cells from smokers, e-cigarette users, and non-smokers. Endothelial cells are found in blood vessels and the heart and are essential for the health of the vessels and the cardiovascular system. The researchers then exposed the cell cultures to a range of liquids, with nicotine concentrations ranging from zero to 18 milligrams per milliliter. The liquids were also used in a variety of flavors to investigate whether flavors had an impact on the cell-damaging effects. The study found that all liquids had a damaging effect on the cells, with cinnamon and menthol flavors being particularly harmful. Even liquids without nicotine caused significant damage to the cells when flavored with these aromas.
Co-author of the study, Joseph Wu, warns that e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes, as they can cause acute dysfunction in blood vessel cells and are a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The study’s findings suggest that e-cigarettes should not be considered a healthy alternative to traditional cigarettes and that more research is needed to fully understand the health risks associated with e-cigarette use.
