Study suggests e-cigarettes trigger inflammation in the gut

Jan 11, 2021

New Delhi, Jan 12 (ANI): 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. 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 researchers found that two chemicals used as a base for all e-cigarette liquid vapour -- propylene glycol and vegetable glycerol -- were the cause of inflammation. For the study, the team used 3D models of human intestinal tracts generated from patient cells and simulated what happens when e-cigarette vapours enter the gut lining.