The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis—A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Evidence

Electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products have seen significant growth in sales and usage in recent years. Initially promoted as potentially less harmful alternatives to traditional tobacco, recent scientific evidence has raised serious concerns about the risks they pose, particularly in rel...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Arianna Magna, Nausica Polisena, Ludovica Polisena, Chiara Bagnato, Elena Pacella, Roberto Carnevale, Cristina Nocella, Lorenzo Loffredo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Antioxidants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/11/1395
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850267264793706496
author Arianna Magna
Nausica Polisena
Ludovica Polisena
Chiara Bagnato
Elena Pacella
Roberto Carnevale
Cristina Nocella
Lorenzo Loffredo
author_facet Arianna Magna
Nausica Polisena
Ludovica Polisena
Chiara Bagnato
Elena Pacella
Roberto Carnevale
Cristina Nocella
Lorenzo Loffredo
author_sort Arianna Magna
collection DOAJ
description Electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products have seen significant growth in sales and usage in recent years. Initially promoted as potentially less harmful alternatives to traditional tobacco, recent scientific evidence has raised serious concerns about the risks they pose, particularly in relation to atherosclerosis. While atherosclerosis has long been associated with conventional tobacco smoking, emerging research suggests that electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco may also contribute to the development of this condition and related cardiovascular complications. In a narrative review, we examined the potential effects of heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes on oxidative stress and atherosclerosis. Several studies have shown that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco increase oxidative stress through the activation of enzymes such as NADPH oxidase. One of the primary effects of these products is their pro-thrombotic and pro-atherosclerotic impact on endothelial cells and platelets, which promotes inflammatory processes within the arteries. Furthermore, the chemicals found in electronic cigarette liquids may exacerbate inflammation and cause endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, through a systematic review, we analyzed the effects of chronic exposure to electronic and heated tobacco cigarettes on endothelial function, as assessed by brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Although electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco cigarettes are often perceived as safer alternatives to traditional smoking, they could still present risks to cardiovascular health. It is essential to raise public awareness about the potential dangers associated with these products and implement protective measures, particularly for young people.
format Article
id doaj-art-be32e6f6c0c343f2945c460b95cb3362
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-3921
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Antioxidants
spelling doaj-art-be32e6f6c0c343f2945c460b95cb33622025-08-20T01:53:52ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212024-11-011311139510.3390/antiox13111395The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis—A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the EvidenceArianna Magna0Nausica Polisena1Ludovica Polisena2Chiara Bagnato3Elena Pacella4Roberto Carnevale5Cristina Nocella6Lorenzo Loffredo7Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, ItalyElectronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products have seen significant growth in sales and usage in recent years. Initially promoted as potentially less harmful alternatives to traditional tobacco, recent scientific evidence has raised serious concerns about the risks they pose, particularly in relation to atherosclerosis. While atherosclerosis has long been associated with conventional tobacco smoking, emerging research suggests that electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco may also contribute to the development of this condition and related cardiovascular complications. In a narrative review, we examined the potential effects of heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes on oxidative stress and atherosclerosis. Several studies have shown that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco increase oxidative stress through the activation of enzymes such as NADPH oxidase. One of the primary effects of these products is their pro-thrombotic and pro-atherosclerotic impact on endothelial cells and platelets, which promotes inflammatory processes within the arteries. Furthermore, the chemicals found in electronic cigarette liquids may exacerbate inflammation and cause endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, through a systematic review, we analyzed the effects of chronic exposure to electronic and heated tobacco cigarettes on endothelial function, as assessed by brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Although electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco cigarettes are often perceived as safer alternatives to traditional smoking, they could still present risks to cardiovascular health. It is essential to raise public awareness about the potential dangers associated with these products and implement protective measures, particularly for young people.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/11/1395smokingoxidative stressheated tobacco productscigaretteselectronic cigarettesNADPH oxidase
spellingShingle Arianna Magna
Nausica Polisena
Ludovica Polisena
Chiara Bagnato
Elena Pacella
Roberto Carnevale
Cristina Nocella
Lorenzo Loffredo
The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis—A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Evidence
Antioxidants
smoking
oxidative stress
heated tobacco products
cigarettes
electronic cigarettes
NADPH oxidase
title The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis—A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Evidence
title_full The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis—A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Evidence
title_fullStr The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis—A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Evidence
title_full_unstemmed The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis—A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Evidence
title_short The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis—A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Evidence
title_sort hidden dangers e cigarettes heated tobacco and their impact on oxidative stress and atherosclerosis a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence
topic smoking
oxidative stress
heated tobacco products
cigarettes
electronic cigarettes
NADPH oxidase
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/11/1395
work_keys_str_mv AT ariannamagna thehiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT nausicapolisena thehiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT ludovicapolisena thehiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT chiarabagnato thehiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT elenapacella thehiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT robertocarnevale thehiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT cristinanocella thehiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT lorenzoloffredo thehiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT ariannamagna hiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT nausicapolisena hiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT ludovicapolisena hiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT chiarabagnato hiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT elenapacella hiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT robertocarnevale hiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT cristinanocella hiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence
AT lorenzoloffredo hiddendangersecigarettesheatedtobaccoandtheirimpactonoxidativestressandatherosclerosisasystematicreviewandnarrativesynthesisoftheevidence