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. 2020 Jan;6(1):30-37.
doi: 10.18001/TRS.6.1.4.

JUUL and Combusted Cigarettes Comparably Impair Endothelial Function

Poonam Rao  1 , Jiangtao Liu  2 , Matthew L Springer  1   2   3
Affiliations

JUUL and Combusted Cigarettes Comparably Impair Endothelial Function

Poonam Rao et al. Tob Regul Sci. 2020 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives: JUUL and earlier generation electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are promoted as being less hazardous than cigarettes. While JUUL Labs, in particular, claims that switching from smoking to vaping has beneficial impacts, the health effects of such products are not well understood. We investigated whether exposure to JUUL and previous generation e-cig aerosol impairs endothelial function comparably to cigarette smoke.

Methods: We exposed rats to aerosol from Virginia Tobacco flavor JUUL, an e-cig tank system using unflavored freebase nicotine e-liquid, Marlboro Red combustible tobacco cigarettes, or clean air for 10 cycles of 2 second inhalation over 5 minutes. Endothelial function (FMD) was measured pre- and post-exposure. Blood was collected 20 mins post-exposure for serum nicotine analysis.

Results: Aerosol/smoke from JUUL, previous generation e-cigs, and cigarettes all impaired FMD. The extent of impairment ranged from 34%-58%, although the differences between groups were insignificant. Nicotine was highest in serum from the JUUL group; for the other e-cig and cigarette groups, nicotine levels were lower and comparable to each other.

Conclusions: Aerosol from JUUL and previous generation e-cigs impairs endothelial function in rats, comparable to impairment by cigarette smoke.

Keywords: JUUL; cigarettes; e-cigarettes; endothelial function; flow-mediated dilation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic diagram showing time course of ultrasound readings during FMD measurement, pre- and post-exposure.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. JUUL and previous generation e-cig used for this study.
A) JUUL stick with loaded pod on the bottom, Virginia tobacco JUUL pod on top. B) Nautilus Aspire tank with freebase nicotine e-liquid. C) JUUL attached to Gram system. D) Nautilus Aspire tank attached to Gram system. E) JUUL aerosol from nose cone. F) Freebase nicotine e-cig aerosol from nose cone.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. FMD was impaired by JUUL aerosol, previous generation e-cig aerosol, and Marlboro Red cigarette smoke.
Top: FMD after 5 mins of exposure. Bottom: Baseline arterial diameter (before arterial occlusion). Colored lines denote individual rats. Horizontal black bars denote the mean of the respective groups. p values are derived from paired 2-tailed t tests. “Previous Gen” = previous generation.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.. Serum levels (ng/ml) of nicotine and cotinine from sera collected after 20 mins of exposure.
*p<0.001 compared to air group. §p<.001 compared to JUUL. BLQ = below limits of quantitation. “Previous Gen” = previous generation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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