Many initial studies showed switching to e-cigarettes from smoking tobacco is a healthier alternative for addicted smokers. This is why many e-cigarettes are marketed as healthy alternatives to tobacco products and smokers are advised to switch to these e-cigarettes as a step toward quitting the habit.
However, a new study by the University of California, Riverside shows that e-cigarettes may not be as healthy as we are being made to believe. According to the study published in the Journal of Toxics, researchers found that switching from traditionally smoked tobacco products to electronic cigarettes does not aid in the restoration of the nasal epithelium for smokers. The researchers discovered that using e-cigarettes caused the same gene expression profile molecular alterations as tobacco smoking. Thus, a switch to e-cigarettes can’t reverse the nasal epithelium in a quitting smoker to that of a non-smoker.
Dr. Giovanna Pozuelos, one of the scientists who conducted the study, says “specifically, the EC group showed alteration of genes associated with an increase in oxidative stress, immune response, and keratinization, as well as evidence of ciliary dysfunction, and diminished ciliogenesis.”
The team of researchers led by cell biology professor Prue Talbot reported that the molecular alterations in the epithelium gene expression profile caused by switching to e-cigarettes can prevent the recovery of the respiratory epithelium of individuals. Professor Talbot thus believes that switching from tobacco smoking to e-cigarettes is likely to further contribute to respiratory epithelial damage instead of helping with its recovery. This is likely to lead to more serious respiratory diseases such as squamous metaplasia.
According to Dr. pozuelos squamous metaplasia is the damage caused to the tissue that lines respiratory organs such as the throat, Thyroid, and lungs. It is caused by toxic injury associated with cigarette smoking. This damage is reversible but, this can only occur once the smoker quits the habit.
According to the study people using e-cigarettes had an increase in molecular markers that are linked to squamous metaplasia. This suggested that instead of e-cigarettes helping in the reversal of squamous metaplasia they might interfere with the process. While many believe that switching to e-cigarettes is the first step toward quitting smoking. The truth from this study is that it is not. This is simply because it does not help with the healing of toxic injuries to the respiratory tissues.
To complete their study the researchers at the University of California Riverside worked with three groups of participants namely non-smokers, current tobacco smokers and former tobacco smokers who have been using second-generation e-cigarettes continuously for the last six months. The researchers then analyzed nasal biopsies collected from participants in each group and compared the findings.
The National Institutes of Health, the FDA Center for Tobacco Products, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse funded this study. Titled “Transcriptomic Evidence That Switching from Tobacco to Electronic Cigarettes Does Not Reverse Damage to the Respiratory Epithelium,” this study adds to the growing body of knowledge that now shows that e-cigarettes are not as healthy as the hype on the streets suggests.
