Researchers at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine have confirmed that vaping alters the expression of thousands of disease-related genes, with fruit flavors and advanced devices driving the majority of the biological damage. This dynamic, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology, comes as regulators face mounting pressure to address the long-term health risks of flavored e-cigarettes.
The study analyzed oral cell samples from 83 healthy young adults, comparing vapers, smokers, and non-users. Using advanced RNA sequencing, scientists discovered that regular vapers exhibited altered activity in 3,124 genes across their genome compared to those who do not smoke or vape.
Surprisingly, the frequency and intensity of vaping accounted for less than a third (28.8%) of these genetic changes. Instead, two-thirds (66.6%) of the biological impact was directly linked to the specific flavors and device types used.
The research highlighted how different flavor profiles uniquely disrupt gene regulation:
- Multiple Flavors: Linked to 64.3% of affected genes.
- Fruit Flavors: Linked to 31% of affected genes.
- Sweet Flavors: Linked to 2.9% of affected genes.
- Mint/Menthol Flavors: Linked to 0.9% of affected genes.
High-generation refillable devices, commonly known as "mods," were associated with the strongest genetic alterations. These advanced devices often deliver higher nicotine levels and utilize potentially toxic additives to make the vapor smoother and more appealing to users.
Bioinformatics analysis linked these genetic shifts to serious health risks, with cancer showing the highest correlation, followed by endocrine, gastrointestinal, and neurological disorders. Senior author Ahmad Besaratinia emphasized that these findings should prompt the FDA to evaluate e-cigarettes on a granular level, targeting specific harmful chemical compounds rather than treating all vapes equally.
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