It’s in vaping’s DNA.
Initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes carry some serious risks of their own, including lung damage and toxic metal exposure.
A new study highlights how they even change vapers’ genes in ways that could worsen the risk of several diseases — and it turns out that different flavors and devices aren’t all created equal.
While a whopping 15 million teens between the ages of 13 and 15 now vape, the habit has been linked to numerous dangers like heart disease, dementia and possible organ failure.
Now, a study published Sunday in Frontiers in Oncology has found that regular e-cigarette use changes more than 3,000 genes, many of which are associated with cancer, heart disease and lung conditions.
The majority of these changes were linked to the type of device and flavor used, with fruit flavors having the most gene alterations and advanced refillable devices, called “mods,” also showing strong effects.
Researchers compared gene activity in 83 people who vaped, smoked and those who didn’t do either.
Fruit flavors were associated with changes in 31% of affected genes, while mixing multiple flavors resulted in just over 64% change.
“Each flavor contains different chemicals that can produce distinct biological effects,” said senior author Professor Ahmad Besaratinia. “This is something regulators need to consider carefully when assessing the safety of e-cigarettes.”
Further analysis of the vapers’ cells showed that the changes in DNA were linked to disease-related pathways.
Cancer showed the strongest connection, followed by endocrine, digestive and neurological conditions.
The researchers point out that the study doesn’t prove that vaping directly causes these health outcomes.
Instead, it shows the changes the digital nicotine sticks can make on a biological level that can become harmful and could impair the body’s ability to repair damage over time.
While the study was small, the findings continue to point to the growing evidence that e-cigarettes have health risks similar to those of their traditional counterparts.
Unsurprisingly, vaping can impair fitness levels, causing muscles to become fatigued more easily and making breathing more difficult.
However, using e-cigarettes can be more dangerous than smoking, thanks to one clear difference.
“Smokers tend to go outside and smoke, and once a cigarette is finished they have to light up another to keep going,” Dr. Maxime Boidin told the Daily Mirror.
“It’s much easier to vape continuously because you can do it in places where smoking might be less acceptable,” he added.
The American Heart Association has called the rise in young people using vapes a “serious public health threat,” noting that most still have “highly addictive” nicotine, which can be especially harmful for developing brains.
