Differential effects of tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes on endothelial function in healthy young people
Kacey Haptonstall, Yasmine Choroomi, Roya Moheimani, Kevin Nguyen, Elizabeth Tran, Karishma Lakhani, Isabella Ruedisueli, Jeffrey Gornbein, Holly R. Middlekauff
Abstract
In our study of otherwise healthy young people, baseline flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a predictor of atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular risk, was not different among tobacco cigarette (TC) smokers or electronic cigarette (EC) vapers who had refrained from smoking, compared with nonsmokers. However, acutely smoking one TC impaired FMD in smokers, whereas vaping a similar EC "dose" (as estimated by change in plasma nicotine levels) did not. Finally, although it is reassuring that acute EC vaping did not acutely impair FMD, it would be premature and dangerous to conclude that ECs do not lead to atherosclerosis or increase cardiovascular risk.