Volatile organic compounds in e-cigarettes tied to changes vascular function, health
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CHICAGO — Volatile organic compounds that are found in combustible cigarette and e-cigarettes were linked with acute changes in vascular function, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.
Pod-based e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use was associated with increased systolic BP, diastolic BP and heart rate and decreased flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, Sana Majid, MD, MS, postdoctoral fellow at Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues reported.
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“We were interested in studying whether pod-based e-cigarette use affects certain measures of heart health. We recruited healthy young adults who used either pod-based e-cigarettes or combustible cigarettes or were nonusers of tobacco products,” Majid told Healio. “We found that pod-based e-cigarette users and combustible cigarette users had elevated systolic BP at baseline. Acute use of these pod-based devices decreased flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery and raised BP similar to combustible cigarette use and to a greater extent than in nonusers of tobacco products. We also found that certain chemicals found in tobacco smoke and e-cigarette aerosols that we measured in our study participants were associated with adverse changes in the vascular health measures of interest.”
Researchers recruited 106 adults with no preexisting CVD or CV risk factors from age 18 to 45 years (mean age, 27 years) at Boston University Medical School and the University of Louisville using Craigslist ads, Boston University and University of Louisville student email posts and authorized public postings.
Majid explained that participants brought their own pod-based e-cigarette or tobacco product for use for 10 minutes. Nonusers that were recruited “puffed” on a regular straw for the same duration. BP and flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery were measured before and after use and urine samples were collected after 1 hour to measure levels of volatile organic compounds associated with cigarette smoke and e-cigarette aerosol.
Among users of e-cigarettes, 64% were exclusive users and 37% reported never using combustible cigarettes.
Researchers reported that both e-cigarette users and traditional cigarette users had similar systolic BP at baseline to each other and higher compared with tobacco nonusers (e-cigarette users, 121 mm Hg; traditional cigarette users, 121 mm Hg; nonusers, 112 mm Hg; P = .0004).
E-cigarette use was associated with decreased flow-mediated dilation (–3.2%) and increased systolic BP (mean increase, 6 mm Hg), diastolic BP (mean increase, 4 mm Hg) and heart rate (mean increase, 5 BPM), each similar compared with traditional cigarette use (P = .83).
The observed changes in vascular function among users of e-cigarettes were greater compared with nonusers (P for flow-mediated dilation < .0001; P for systolic BP = .002; P diastolic BP = .003; P for heart rate < .0001) and remained consistent after adjustment for age, sex and race.
Levels of volatile organic compounds found in participant urine samples including acrylamide, acrylonitrile and crotonaldehyde were associated with changes in measures vascular health, according to the presentation.
In addition, cultured endothelial cells were exposed to select volatile organic compounds to assess nitric oxide production.
Researchers observed reduced acetylcholine-stimulated nitric oxide production in human aortic endothelial cells in culture exposed to acrylamide, acrylonitrile and crotonaldehyde.
“The alterations found in our study suggest that pod-based e-cigarettes adversely affect measures of vascular health,” Majid told Healio. “We are continuing to follow up with the study participants to see the long-term vascular effects of e-cigarette use. It is important to address caution with e-cigarettes, as much remains unknown.”
Reference:
- Use of e-cigarettes had negative cardiovascular effects similar to smoking cigarettes. newsroom.heart.org/news/use-of-e-cigarettes-had-negative-cardiovascular-effects-similar-to-smoking-cigarettes. Published Oct. 31, 2022. Accessed Nov. 3, 2022.
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Majid SA, et al. Abstract SU15569. Presented at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions; Nov. 5-7, 2022; Chicago (hybrid meeting).
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