A new study by researchers at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, has found evidence that e-cigarettes may have similar effects on cells as traditional tobacco cigarettes.
The study, published in the journal Cancer Research, examined the impact of both smoking methods on the epigenome, the chemical modifications on a cell’s DNA that influence gene expression.
Researchers analyzed over 5,300 samples from 4,000 participants, including blood, mouth swabs, and cervical samples in women.
They observed that smoking cigarettes triggered changes in the cellular program across various cell types.
Notably, the study found that e-cigarette consumption appeared to induce similar cellular changes, particularly in the mouth’s epithelial cells.
These epithelial cells play a role in lung and other organ cancers when altered by traditional cigarette smoking.
The study suggests that e-cigarettes may cause a “pro-carcinogenic” epigenome in these cells, raising concerns about their potential long-term health risks.
“We observed very similar changes” in e-cigarette users with minimal smoking history, compared to regular smokers, stated Dr. Chiara Herzog, a study author.
Dr. Martin Widschwendter, another researcher, emphasized that the findings warrant caution regarding e-cigarettes, highlighting the need for further investigation into their health effects.
