Emerging Concerns Over Heated Tobacco Products
The scientific community remains divided regarding the safety of heated tobacco products. New research indicates that even a single session of using these alternatives to traditional cigarettes can lead to measurable changes in blood vessels, oxygen transport, metabolism, and DNA integrity. The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, challenges the claims that these products pose lesser health risks and highlights the necessity of including all nicotine-containing alternatives in public health policies.
Lead researcher Lea Strohm from the University Medical Centre Mainz in Germany notes that “heated tobacco products, such as IQOS, which heat rather than burn tobacco, are often marketed as less harmful alternatives to conventional cigarettes. However, independent evidence regarding their immediate effects on cardiovascular health and overall bodily function remains limited.”
To explore the biological impacts of these devices, Strohm and her colleagues conducted an experiment involving 30 healthy adult smokers, with an average age of 34.5 years. The researchers measured various genetic and cardiovascular health indicators before and after the participants consumed two units of heated tobacco under medical supervision, a process lasting approximately eight to twelve minutes. Participants were divided into different groups for testing.
Significant Vascular Changes Observed
The results revealed a notable decrease in the ability of blood vessels to dilate by 11% following exposure. Among the 28 individuals assessed, a rise of three millimetres of mercury in systolic blood pressure was also observed. This figure reflects the force exerted by blood against arterial walls when the heart contracts and pumps blood throughout the body.
This finding points to endothelial dysfunction, which involves the layer of cells lining blood vessels and plays a crucial role in regulating their dilation and contraction. Such dysfunction is considered an early indicator of cardiovascular risk, potentially linked to processes that encourage the development of diseases like atherosclerosis.
The researchers propose that nicotine may play a role in these responses by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which can promote blood vessel contraction and temporarily raise blood pressure. However, the study’s design did not allow for the isolation of nicotine’s specific effects from those caused by other factors.
Impact on Blood Oxygen Levels
In terms of blood oxygenation, tests conducted on 24 participants showed that while the partial pressure of carbon dioxide increased, the partial pressure of oxygen and its saturation levels decreased. The saturation dropped from approximately 71% to 46%, according to the reported results.
Moreover, the researchers examined the DNA of blood cells. They analysed samples from six participants using the comet assay, a technique that helps identify breaks in genetic material. A total of 5,903 cells were analysed, with 2,875 examined before exposure and 3,028 afterwards.
Evidence of Genetic Damage
The findings indicated a statistically significant increase in four indicators used to estimate the extent and distribution of damaged genetic material. Based on these results, the authors concluded that the consumption of heated tobacco triggered an “oxidative stress response,” suggesting that cells activate defensive mechanisms in response to damage.
“Our findings demonstrate that these products are not biologically inert. Acute exposure was sufficient to induce vascular dysfunction, metabolic alterations, and genetic damage in otherwise healthy smokers. These outcomes challenge the assertions that heated tobacco products are substantially less harmful to the cardiovascular system compared to conventional cigarettes,” Strohm emphasised.
Call for Comprehensive Regulation
While the authors acknowledge limitations in their study, including the small participant pool and the lack of a control group, they stress the importance of expanding available evidence. They also point out that it remains unclear what the long-term responses are, whether the changes are reversible, or if they accumulate with regular use of these devices.
Nevertheless, the researchers argue that their results support previous studies warning of the potential harmful effects of heated tobacco products. Co-author Thomas Münzel, also from the same medical centre, asserts that “no product containing nicotine, whether smoked, heated, vaporised, or absorbed, can be considered safe for the heart and blood vessels.”
Consequently, he concludes that “policymakers must cease distinguishing between ‘burned’ and ‘non-burned’ nicotine and regulate all nicotine products under a unified framework, including flavour restrictions, advertising bans, and comprehensive anti-tobacco laws.”