New research done at the University of California, San Diego, shows that daily use of e-cigarettes changes the inflammatory status of numerous organs in the body.
The study concentrated on the JUUL brand and its most popular flavors, mint and mango. Effects of the pod-based cigs varied depending on the flavor. The most striking effects, the study’s authors said, were seen in the brain.
In the colon, gene expression increased, while in the heart inflammatory markers decreased — an issue that worried the researchers: “This state of immunosuppression could make cardiac tissue more vulnerable to infection,” they wrote in a review.
Of particular concern was the fact that so many young people are vaping, and the long-range effects are yet to be known. “Many JUUL users are adolescents or young adults whose brains are still developing, so it’s pretty terrifying to learn what may be happening in their brains considering how this could affect their mental health and behavior down the line,” said researcher Crotty Alexander.
SOURCE:
UC San Diego April 14, 2022