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Study: E-cigarettes trigger inflammation in the gut

Touted by makers as a “healthy” alternative to traditional nicotine cigarettes, new research indicates the chemicals found in e-cigarettes disrupt the gut barrier and trigger inflammation in the body, potentially leading to a variety of health concerns.

Published

4 years ago

January 8, 2021

ZestMag.com Staff

Photo by Jaroslav Devia from Unsplash.com

In the study, published in the journal iScience, Soumita Das, PhD, associate professor of pathology, and Pradipta Ghosh, MD, professor of cellular and molecular medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues, found that chronic use of nicotine-free e-cigarettes led to a “leaky gut,” in which microbes and other molecules seep out of the intestines, resulting in chronic inflammation. Such inflammation can contribute to a variety of diseases and conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, dementia, certain cancers, atherosclerosis, liver fibrosis, diabetes and arthritis.

“The gut lining is an amazing entity. It is comprised of a single layer of cells that are meant to seal the body from the trillions of microbes, defend our immune system, and at the same time allow absorption of essential nutrients,” said Ghosh. “Anything we eat or drink, our lifestyle choices in other words, has the ability to impact our gut microbes, the gut barrier and overall health. Now we know that what we smoke, such as e-cigarettes, negatively impacts it as well.”

The researchers found that two chemicals used as a base for all e-cigarette liquid vapor — propylene glycol and vegetable glycerol — were the cause of inflammation.

“Numerous chemicals are created when these two are heated to generate the fumes in vaping that cause the most damage, for which there are no current regulations,” said Ghosh. “The safety of e-cigarettes have been debated fiercely on both sides. Nicotine content, and its addictive nature, has always been the major focus of those who argue against its safety, whereas lack of chemicals in the carcinogens that are present in the cigarette smoke has been touted by the makers of e-cigarettes when marketing these products as a ‘healthy alternative.’ In reality, it’s the chemicals making up the vapor liquid that we should be more concerned about as they are the cause of gut inflammation.”

For the study, the team used 3D models of human intestinal tracts generated from patient cells and simulated what happens when e-cigarette vapors enter the gut lining. Researchers validated the findings using mice models of vaping in collaboration with Laura Crotty-Alexander, MD, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and section chief of Pulmonary Critical Care at Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System.

To produce the 3D gut organoids, the researchers collected stem cells from patients’ biopsies during colonoscopies and grew them in vitro. The stem cells differentiated into the four different cell types that make up the gut lining. The team then exposed the organoids to e-cigarette liquid vapor, mimicking the frequency of a chronic vaper.

They noted that epithelial tight conjunction markers, which are zipper-like proteins that form the gut’s first physical barrier, began to break or loosen, causing pathogens from the vapor to seep into the surrounding immune system, wreaking havoc on protective epithelial cells that lie just beneath.

Such cells act as a defense against infection by clearing pathogenic microbes and initiating certain immune responses in the body. When exposed to the e-cigarette liquid, the cells were quickly overwhelmed, unable to effectively clear pathogens, resulting in gut inflammation.

The study is part of the HUMANOID Center of Research Excellence, a core facility based at UC San Diego School of Medicine led by Ghosh and Das who was senior author of the study. Scientists at the center use a variety of human organoids and other tools to model diseases and effects.

“This is the first study that demonstrates how chronic exposure to e-cigarettes increases the gut’s susceptibility to bacterial infections, leading to chronic inflammation and other health concerns,” said Das. “Given the importance of the gut barrier in the maintenance of the body’s immune homeostasis, the findings provide valuable insight into the potential long-term harmful effects chronic use of e-cigarettes on our health.”

Ghosh said damage to the gut lining may be reversible over time if the inciting factor, in this case e-cigarette use, is eliminated, but the effects of chronic inflammation upon other organs, such as the heart or brain, may be irreversible. In the future, Ghosh said she and colleagues plan to look at different flavorings of e-cigarettes to determine what effects they might have on the gut.

Additional study co-authors include: Aditi Sharma, Jasper Lee, Ayden G. Fonseca, Alex Moshensky, Taha Kothari, Ibrahim M. Sayed, Stella-Rita Ibeawuchi, Rama F. Pranadinata, Jason Ear, and Debashis Sahoo, all at UC San Diego.

Related Topics:anti-smoking e-cigarette quit smoking smoking smoking ban

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Research suggests drinking coffee may reduce the risk of frailty

Habitual coffee consumption of 4-6 cups and over* (with one cup measuring at 125ml) per day is associated with a reduced risk of frailty.

Published

5 days ago

May 7, 2025

ZestMag.com Staff

A new study published in the European Journal of Nutrition has suggested that habitual coffee consumption of 4-6 cups and over* (with one cup measuring at 125ml) per day is associated with a reduced risk of frailty.

The study, funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) is the first to analyze the relationship between coffee consumption and the underlying components of frailty.

Coffee consumption has previously been linked to reducing the risk of some of the natural symptoms of ageing, such as improving cognitive function² and mitigating against inflammatory related diseases. This latest research adds to the growing knowledge base within this area, exploring the benefits of regular coffee consumption over an extended period of time.

For this study, researchers conducted a detailed analysis over a long seven-year follow-up period, surveying 1,161 adults aged 55+ years through the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).

The relationship between coffee consumption and the presence and incidence of frailty was investigated. Frailty status was evaluated using Fried’s five-component frailty phenotype⁴,which is defined by the presence of three or more of the following symptoms: weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slow gait (walking) speed, and low physical activity.

The results of this study indicate that higher habitual coffee consumption is associated with lower overall odds of frailty. These findings can be considered alongside the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) scientific opinion that up to 400mg of caffeine (3-5 cups of coffee) per day is a moderate and safe amount⁵.

The researchers explain that coffee’s effect on reducing frailty can partly be attributed to the role of antioxidants in coffee, which may help to reduce inflammation, sarcopenia (muscle loss), and prevention of muscle damage. Coffee may also help to improve regulating insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in older people.

The study’s lead author, Margreet R. Olthof, Associate Professor at the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, commented: “Drinking coffee is a key part of many people’s daily routine, and as people age they are constantly looking for ways to maintain their health. Our findings highlight the possible beneficial association between daily coffee consumption and reduced risk of frailty in later life in the older population. Coffee consumption may thus enhance healthy aging, but it is important we also explore further dietary interventions, to ensure older adults can continue to live fulfilling lives.”

* Moderate coffee consumption can be defined as 3–5 cups per day, based on the European Food Safety Authority’s review of caffeine safety.

NewsMakers

Landers opens first Cavite store in Vermosa

Landers Superstore, the fastest growing membership store in the country, proudly marks another milestone with the grand opening of Landers Vermosa – its first-ever store in the province and its 15th store nationwide.

Published

6 days ago

May 6, 2025

ZestMag.com Staff

Premium membership shopping has finally arrived in Cavite.

Conveniently located inside Ayala Vermosa’s sprawling estate and lifestyle hub in Imus, Cavite, the newest Landers store offers a fresh and elevated way of shopping for Caviteños, complete with massive savings, world-class finds, and exclusive membership perks, all under one roof. It is also the largest Landers store to date at 12,900 sqm, promising a bigger and better experience for every member who walks through its doors.

Welcoming Landers in Cavite

Landers Vermosa opened with an exciting grand launch that brought together members of the media, content creators, and special guests for a first look at the newest and biggest Landers Superstore. The attendees were in high spirits as they explored the spacious store and enjoyed exclusive product samplings and guided tours.

During the event, Landers Deputy Chief Executive Officer Bill Cummings delivered heartfelt opening remarks, expressing his excitement for the new store and his appreciation for the warm welcome from the Cavite community, noting that over 60,000 members had already signed up prior to opening day – a clear sign of the anticipation surrounding the launch.

The celebration also highlighted the strong collaboration between Landers Superstore and Ayala Land, along with the support of the city government of Imus, led by Mayor Alex Advincula. The event underscored Landers’ commitment to bringing world-class shopping experiences to more Filipino families, starting with the vibrant and growing community in Cavite.

What to expect at Landers Vermosa

At Landers Vermosa, members can look forward to filling their carts with high-quality local and imported products—from daily essentials to unique international finds. Beyond shopping, the store offers a host of exclusive perks that make every visit more rewarding. Members can enjoy free haircuts or blow-dry services at Federal Barbers, low-priced medicine and wellness products at Capital Care Pharmacy, up to P10 off per liter at Landers-Caltex gas stations, and up to 50% off on Solane LPG refills.

Members of Landers Vermosa will gain access to all of Landers Superstore’s massive sale events like Super Crazy Sale and 50% Off Produce Sale, which offer unbeatable savings on a wide range of products. To complete the experience, members can enjoy regular in-store activities every month and free product samplings that are perfect for the whole family.

Sign up for Landers membership

Be among the first to explore this exciting new shopping destination and enjoy all the perks that come with being a Landers member.

If you’re not yet a member, now’s the perfect time to sign up! Memberships are currently on sale at 50% off—just P350 for a full year of exclusive savings and benefits. Promo runs until May 31.

Looking for even more value? Apply for the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card and get up to 5% cashback on all Landers purchases, plus earn rewards wherever you shop.

Landers Vermosa is here with more perks, more savings, and more reasons to love shopping in the South. See you in-store.

NewsMakers

Cannabidiol therapy could reduce symptoms in autistic children and teenagers

The use of cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis extract can lead to meaningful benefits and improve the behaviour of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Published

1 month ago

April 10, 2025

ZestMag.com Staff

New research presented at the 2025 European Congress of Psychiatry reveals that the use of cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis extract can lead to meaningful benefits and improve the behaviour of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD affects approximately 1 in 100 children around the world and symptoms can include difficulty interpreting language, difficulty expressing emotions, and repetitive behaviour and routines.^1,2

The meta-analysis included randomised, placebo-controlled trials on the efficacy or safety of CBD cannabis extracts in children and adolescents with ASD. Three studies were used in total with 276 participants with a mean age of 10.5, ranging in age from 5 to 21. The dosage of CBD cannabis extract started at 1 mg/kg per day and was titrated up to 10 mg/kg.

Key findings from the study include:

CBD cannabis extract use shows moderate improvements in social responsiveness and small yet notable reductions in disruptive behaviours.
CBD cannabis extract significantly enhanced social responsiveness and reduced disruptive behaviour.
The use of CBD cannabis extract has a favourable safety profile as it did not increase adverse events compared to placebo
There were no significant differences between adverse events in CBD cannabis extract versus placebo

Lara Cappelletti Beneti Branco, Lead Investigator, São Camilo University Center, University of São Paulo, said: “The global population prevalence of ASD diagnosis amongst children and adolescents is growing, but many treatment pathways are not effective. It is promising to see the effect of CBD cannabis extract on the study participants. However, there still needs to be considerable focus on further research with larger trials to clarify its efficacy and safety in managing ASD.”

Professor Geert Dom, EPA President, said: “ASD can be extremely frustrating for all involved; parents of children and adolescents with the disorder, the treating clinicians and of course the children and adolescents themselves. A large part of this frustration is down to finding a viable treatment option that works to reduce symptoms. It is with delight that we see the results of this meta-analysis and we hope to see further research into this so we can move towards a solution to the unmet need within this community”.