NCT03690427

The Cardiovascular Effects of Electronic Hookah Vaping

Investigating the Cardiovascular Toxicity of Exposure to Electronic Hookah Smoking

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 19 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years – 39 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Hookah (water-pipe) tobacco smoking has quickly grown to become a major global tobacco epidemic among youth; with electronic (e-) hookahs more recently increasing in popularity especially among young female adults, who endorse marketing claims that these products are a safer alternative to traditional hookah, but scientific evidence is lacking. The study aims to elucidate the comparative effects of traditional hookah smoking vs. e-hookah vaping on human vascular and endothelial function; and examine the role of inflammation and oxidative stress, as likely mechanisms in hookah-related cardiovascular disease pathogenesis.

Detailed description

Hookah (water-pipe) tobacco smoking is rapidly increasing in popularity worldwide. Contributing to this popularity is the unsubstantiated belief that traditional charcoal-heated hookah smoke is detoxified as it passes through the water-filled basin. More recently, electronic (e-) hookahs-containing flavored e-liquid that is heated electrically but inhaled through traditional water-pipes-are increasing in popularity in the United States among young female adults, who endorse marketing claims that these products are even safer than traditional charcoal-heated hookah products. The objective of this project is to investigate the comparative effects of traditional charcoal-heated hookah smoking versus e-hookah vaping on endothelial and vascular function and their mechanistic role in the development of cardiovascular disease. The investigators will test the hypothesis that: 1) in the absence of burning charcoal briquettes and virtually any carbon monoxide (CO) exposure, e-hookah vaping acutely impairs endothelial function and evokes acute central arterial stiffness, opposite from the endothelial function augmentation observed after traditional charcoal-heated hookah smoking, which is likely mediated by the large CO boost emitted from burning charcoal briquettes used to heat the flavored hookah tobacco; and 2) the processes of oxidative stress and inflammation play a pivotal mechanistic role underlying these vascular changes. Accordingly, in a cross-over study comparing traditional hookah smoking to e-hookah vaping, the investigators will assess endothelial function measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and aortic stiffness by pulse wave velocity and augmentation index in 18 young healthy hookah smokers 21-39 years old, before and after ad lib 30-minute smoking/ vaping exposure sessions. To test for oxidative stress mediation, the investigators will determine if any acute impairment in endothelial function after e-hookah can be prevented by intravenous Vitamin C infusion, a potent anti-oxidant. Inflammatory and oxidant biomarkers, as well as smoking exposure biomarkers will be collected before and after the exposure sessions. The results of this proposal: (a) stand to fill in gaps in our mechanistic understanding of the comparative effect of traditional vs. e-hookah bowl on vascular and endothelial function; and (b) help inform policy decisions by the FDA about regulation of hookah products.

Conditions

• Endothelial Dysfunction
• Inflammation
• Oxidative Stress

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Traditional hookah smoking	Charcoal-heated hookah smoking
OTHER	Electronic hookah vaping	Electronic hookah bowl inhalation

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-12-11
• Primary completion: 2021-08-31
• Completion: 2021-09-27
• First posted: 2018-10-01
• Last updated: 2023-08-16
• Results posted: 2023-08-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States