Electronic Cigarette Liquid Flavorings May Impair Heart Muscle Function

Electronic cigarettesare devices that imitate smoking and are marketed as a less harmful alternative to it. Most e-cigarettes have a cartridge, a battery and an atomizer. The cartridge contains a liquid solution heated and vaporized by the atomizer. Once the liquid has been vaporized, the user can inhale it as with conventional cigarette smoking. The cartridge contains varying concentrations of nicotine.

While research into the health effects of electronic cigarettes continues, a recent study revealed that e-cigarettes may damage heart muscle.

Research at the University of Louisville in Kentucky was presented at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) scientific meeting in late 2017 and also published in a journal. It found that some flavorings added to e-cigarette liquids may harm the heart. The team identified certain chemicals used in flavorings that could impair heart muscle cell function. The study tested 15 different chemicals on cardiomyocytes derived from induced human stem cells and monitored how each flavoring affected cardiomyocyte function, both when heated and unheated.

Related Topic:

• A previously unforeseen risk for cardiovascular diseases: e-cigarettes!

Cardiomyocytesare the cells forming the heart muscle and are responsible for the heart’s contraction function. They enable the heart to pump blood throughout the body.

They found that eugenol (clove), citronellol (floral) and lemon extract (citrus) flavorings caused heart muscle cells to beat faster, while cinnamic aldehyde, or cinnamon flavorings, prevented cardiomyocytes from contracting for 24 hours.

Demonstrating these effects was important both for showing potential harm and for identifying which aspects could be addressed if changes to these devices are needed.

Related Topic:

• Are electronic cigarettes targeting only current smokers?