Electronic Hookah (Waterpipe) Vaping Reduces Vascular Endothelial Function: The Role of Nicotine

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2023 Dec 22. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00710.2023. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTVaping has risen substantially in recent years, particularly among young adults. While e-hookah vaping acutely reduces endothelial function, the role of nicotine and the mechanisms by which it may impairs endothelial function remain understudied. In a randomized cross-over study, we investigated the acute effects of vaping e-hookah, with and without nicotine, as compared to sham on endothelial function assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), among 18 overtly healthy young adults. To determine the role of changes in circulating factors in plasma on endothelial cell function, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured with participants' plasma and acetylcholine-stimulated NO production and basal ROS bioactivity were assessed. E-hookah vaping with nicotine, which acutely increased heart rate (HR) 6±3 bpm and mean arterial pressure (MAP) 7±2 mm Hg (mean±SE; p<0.001), decreased endothelial-dependent FMD by 1.57±0.19%Δ (p=0.001), indicating impairment in endothelial function. Vaping e-hookah without nicotine, which mildly increased hemodynamics (p=ns), did not significantly impair endothelial function. No changes were observed after sham vaping. HUVECs cultured with participants' plasma after vs. before e-hookah vaping with nicotine, but not without nicotine or sham vaping, exhibited reductions in endothelial cell NO bioavailabil...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Source Type: research