A replicated in vitro study published on Wiley Analytical Science, found that vapour does not produce the same negative cellular effects caused by cigarette smoke that lead to vascular damage.
Titled, “Comparative assessment of electronic nicotine delivery systems aerosol and cigarette smoke on endothelial cell migration: The Replica Project,” the study replicated a previous one in comparing the in vitro effect of e-cigarette vapour in comparison to cigarette smoke.
Consistent with the findings from the original study, the research team found that the aerosol from vaping products caused less cellular damage than cigarette smoke. They explained that while smoke reduced endothelial wound healing ability, even at low concentrations (12.5%) vapour showed no such effect on endothelial cells even at 80%–100% concentrations.
“In conclusion, our study further confirms the importance of EC and tobacco heated products as a possible harm reduction strategy for cardiovascular diseases development in smokers,” concluded the study Abstract.
Meanwhile, another study analysing data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco & Health (PATH) study, found no link between exclusive ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) use and an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases.
Titled, “Longitudinal associations between exclusive and dual use of electronic nicotine delivery systems and cigarettes and self-reported incident diagnosed cardiovascular disease among adults,” the current study analyzed waves 1-5 of the PATH Study (2013-2019). The research team looked for the risk of self-reported incident diagnosed myocardial infarction (MI; 280 incident cases) and stroke (186 incident cases) and any possible associations with ENDS and/or cigarette use among adults aged 40+.
The compiled data found that compared to no cigarette or ENDS use, exclusive cigarette use increased the risk of MI and stroke, while exclusive ENDS use and even dual use of ENDS and cigarettes was not.
Study finds certain flavours disrupt the heart’s electrical conduction
On the other hand a study in Nature Communications, the study titled, “E-cigarettes and their lone constituents induce cardiac arrhythmia and conduction defects in mice,” suggested that short-term exposure to vapour can destabilize heart rhythm through specific chemicals within e-liquids. To this effect, the research team concluded that the use of certain flavours or chemicals found in the products may disrupt the heart’s electrical conduction hence causing arrhythmias.
Yet again, another recent study published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, highlighted the relative safety of smokeless tobacco products and how switching to the products from combustible cigarettes was associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk in smokers.
Smokeless tobacco users had lower biomarkers of disease
The study, “Associations of Smokeless Tobacco Use With Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Insights From the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study” was conducted by a team of researchers from UCLA, UC San Francisco, Boston University and the University of Texas at Arlington.
The researchers analyzed data from a nationally representative group of 4,347 adults who provided urine and blood samples in 2013–14 as part of the PATH study. Among this group, 3,034 participants used cigarettes exclusively, 338 used only smokeless tobacco, and 975 had never used any tobacco product. The compiled data indicated that despite similar nicotine levels, smokeless tobacco users displayed significantly lower biomarkers of disease.