THE NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

The use of e-cigarettes continues to rise, but the safety of their aerosols is being questioned. Researchers from the Department of Pathology and the Rebecca and John Moore Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, have undertaken a study which finds that the chemicals in e-cigarettes compromise the gut barrier, provoke inflammation, and can lead to conditions such as cancer, dementia, intestinal disorders, arteriosclerosis, hepatic fibrosis, diabetes, and arthritis.

Researchers examined the effects of the use of e-cigarettes on the gut barrier. Their analyses revealed that chronic use of nicotine-free e-cigarettes increased inflammation and reduced the expression of tight junction (TJ) markers in both murines and humans. It was observed that the substances found in the vapor of e-cigarettes (propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin) cause barrier disruption, downregulation of TJ protein, and enhanced inflammation in response to infection. Considering the importance of an intact gut barrier for host fitness and the impact of gut mucosal inflammation on many chronic diseases, these findings are relevant to both medicine and public health.

The gut barrier is composed of a layer of cells that seal off the body from billions of microbes, defend the immune system, and help to absorb essential nutrients. As a result, everything we ingest, as well as our everyday health habits, are fundamental both to keeping us healthy and to preventing a wide range of illnesses.

Source: Aditi Sharma et al. “E-cigarettes compromise the gut barrier and trigger inflammation.” iScience, Vol. 24, Issue 2 (19 February 2021), 102035.