The Study

Recently, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) showed how certain flavors in e-liquids could damage endothelial cells and be toxic to the heart by having oxidative and inflammatory properties. The study was done in vitro, meaning not on human subjects but in a controlled lab environment (in a dish), and did not use vapor, but instead e-liquid itself. While the findings of this study do align with a previous study we talked about on DIYorDIE, both in vitro studies don’t come to definitive truths. Luckily for the vaping industry, we have Dr. Farsalinos to help us understand and break down why we don’t need to yet worry. 

Farsalino’s Response

So Farsalinos’ has recently made his comments on this particular study. Not only does he help break down the study and their findings (mainly because the original study is very heavy in biology terms and is difficult for laymen to read), but he also offers a counterpoint that I found very interesting. Essentially, he states the study is not definitive because of two reasons. One being that the study was done in vitro, and using the liquids themselves. Instead of looking at what the actual vapor does, the study focused on just the raw compound itself. What was fascinating was how Farsalino’s offered counterpoints showing how cinnamaldehyde in particular was found to have many benefits, including anti-oxidant anti-inflammatory properties, as well as having anti-cancer and neuroprotective activity, just to name a few. Because the study was done with liquid, this would fall in line with a lot of the research done on cinnamaldehyde in food, and because it is “in e-liquid” doesn’t make it any more dangerous. At least not in the way that this study presented it. Another point is how little participants were used in collecting serum for inflammation and EC markers. Serum was collected by only 5 smokers and 4 vapers, two of which who were actually dual users. Overall, Farsalinos states that in vitro testing shows conflicting results, and maybe the study identified effects observed by other compounds in the liquid, and not the flavors themselves. But more studies need to be done with actual vapor, and in vivo, to fully understand the damage or risks.