On the potential harmful effects of E‐Cigarettes (EC) on the developing brain: The relationship between vaping‐induced oxidative stress and adolescent/young adults social maladjustment.

Abstract

Introduction: Evidence suggests that in convenience stores across the United States (U.S), sales of e-cigarettes (EC) continue to grow, indicating their rising popularity. ECs have been touted as a means for traditional cigarette (TC) smokers to quit smoking. However, the dramatic increase in the number of adolescents and young adults using e-cigarettes (vaping) in America is a cause for concern as their long-term effects remain unknown. Methods: Search was done by accessing PubMed/Medline, EBSCO, and PsycINFO databases. The search string used was "(Cigarettes OR E-Cigarettes* OR Vaping) AND (Oxidative Stress* OR Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)) AND (Adolescents OR Teens OR Young Adults)". The electronic databases were searched for titles or abstracts containing these terms in all published articles between January 1, 1970, and June 30, 2019. Over 3000 articles were found in the first round of search which was filtered to 129 articles. Results: Oxidative Stress is a critical underlying molecular factor that drives the harmful effects of traditional cigarettes. The developing brain is particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of oxidative stress and e-cigarettes just like traditional cigarettes induces oxidative stress. Many ecigarette components including the flavoring, vapor, e-liquids and metallic coil, trigger oxidative stress, indicating that both nicotine and non-nicotine e-cigarette use may be harmful.Conclusions: E-cigarettes use could potentially play a role in adolescent/young adults social maladjustments including poor learning and academic performance, increased aggressive and impulsive behavior, poor sleep quality, attention deficits, impaired memory, and cognition, and increased depression and suicidal ideation. The government, parents, school authorities and clinicians should be advised on these potentially harmful effects.

Nicotine Inhalation and Suicide: Clinical Correlates and Behavioral Mechanisms

“…Exposure to hypoxia, from altitude, smoking, or ENDS, was associated with increased suicides in 9,620,944 people with 22,403 suicides 91 . ENDS have a similar or greater risk relative to conventional cigarettes, causing high levels of intermittent hypoxic stress even without nicotine 93 . Intermittent hypoxia may interact with nicotine in susceptibility to nicotine dependence, possibly through impaired serotonin synthesis, 93 working synergistically with direct effects of nicotine on serotonergic function 36 .…”

“…ENDS have a similar or greater risk relative to conventional cigarettes, causing high levels of intermittent hypoxic stress even without nicotine 93 . Intermittent hypoxia may interact with nicotine in susceptibility to nicotine dependence, possibly through impaired serotonin synthesis, 93 working synergistically with direct effects of nicotine on serotonergic function 36 . Children with obstructive sleep apnea are susceptible to impulsive behavior 94 ; young adults with impulsivity and polysubstance abuse have reduced cerebral oxygenation 95 .…”

Prevalence and perceptions of e-cigarette use among medical students in a Saudi University

“…One study concluded that both the nicotine and non-nicotine components of e-cigarettes led to increased aggressiveness, impulsiveness, attention deficits, and suicidal ideation among its young users. [ 10 ]…”

Differences in oxidative stress profile in adolescents smoking waterpipe versus cigarettes: The Irbid TRY Project

“…The increase in free radicals and depletion of antioxidants can result in oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, thus augmented oxidative stress. Few studies, however, examined the effect of tobacco consumption (Kahraman, Torun, Osmanoglu, Oruclu, & Ozer, 2017;Tobore, 2019) on oxidative stress among adolescents, with none using Wp. Greater total antioxidant status and total oxidant status, and lower paraoxonase-1 were found in adolescent passive Cg (Kahraman et al, 2017) and e-cigarettes (Tobore, 2019) smokers.…”

“…Few studies, however, examined the effect of tobacco consumption (Kahraman, Torun, Osmanoglu, Oruclu, & Ozer, 2017;Tobore, 2019) on oxidative stress among adolescents, with none using Wp. Greater total antioxidant status and total oxidant status, and lower paraoxonase-1 were found in adolescent passive Cg (Kahraman et al, 2017) and e-cigarettes (Tobore, 2019) smokers. This increase in oxidative stress was related to number of cigarette exposure (Yildirim, Sermetow, Aycicek, Kocyigit, & Erel, 2011) and resulted in DNA damage of the peripheral blood lymphocytes (Shermatov et al, 2012).…”