The growing use of e-cigarettes raises health concerns. Study shows that exposure to vaping aerosols containing nicotine worsens myocardial infarction damage in mice. An additional signal to encourage the reduction of its use.
The use of electronic cigarettes, often presented as a less harmful alternative to traditional smoking, is growing in popularity, particularly among young and former smokers. However, the long-term effects of this practice on cardiovascular health remain poorly understood, particularly when it provides nicotine. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association examines how exposure to nicotine via e-cigarettes may influence heart damage after myocardial infarction.
A decrease in contractile function
In this study, mice were exposed for four weeks to e-cigarette aerosols containing either nicotine (5 mg/mL) or only flavorings. They were also compared to control, unexposed mice. They were then subjected to myocardial infarction to evaluate the effects of exposure to the two types of aerosols on cardiac structure and function.
The results revealed that mice exposed to aerosols containing nicotine showed a significant decrease in cardiac contractile performance after infarction, compared to the control group and those exposed to aerosols without nicotine (33% decrease in fraction d ejection compared to the initial value in the nicotine group compared to 26% in the control group and 27% in the flavors only group, p < 0.01).
If the size of the infarct was comparable in the 3 groups, the cellular response was not the same with higher cellular activity in the aromatic aerosols alone group than in the nicotine group, suggesting that the latter disrupts the cellular mechanisms of post-infarction repair.
Despite the robustness of the observations, the study has notable limitations. Exposure of mice to e-cigarette aerosols does not reflect human conditions, particularly due to differences in physiology and inhalation protocols. Furthermore, extrapolation of results to the human population must be done with caution. However, these data reinforce concerns about the cardiovascular effects of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine.
Inform users
These findings raise critical questions for public health. While electronic cigarettes continue to be promoted as a risk reduction tool for smokers, this study highlights their dangers, especially with prolonged use or in individuals already suffering from heart conditions.
Additional research is needed to expand on these findings in humans, taking into account the diversity of vaping habits and the complex interactions between aerosol components and cardiac tissues. In the meantime, it is imperative to educate users about the risks associated with nicotine in electronic cigarettes, in order to better protect their cardiovascular health.
