Vaping's Impact on Cholesterol Levels

Vaping should be discouraged due to its negative effects on cholesterol metabolism and cardiovascular health. 1

Effects of Vaping on Cholesterol

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping are not harmless alternatives to traditional cigarettes and can adversely affect cholesterol metabolism 1
Vaping can negatively impact both HDL cholesterol quantity and function, contributing to increased cardiovascular risk 2
Vaping additives at even low concentrations (5 mol%) can interact with cholesterol, destabilizing lung surfactant films which may contribute to vaping-associated lung injury 3
E-cigarette exposure has been shown to cause early pro-atherogenic changes in animal models, affecting circulating lipoprotein levels 4

While combustible tobacco products are clearly the most harmful, electronic nicotine delivery products should not be characterized as harmless 1
Health risks associated with vaping affect both cardiovascular and respiratory systems 1, 5
Vaping can lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and thrombosis - all key factors in the development of cardiovascular disease 6
Early molecular and clinical evidence suggests various acute physiological effects from electronic nicotine delivery systems, particularly those containing nicotine 5

Healthcare providers should advise individuals with or without diabetes to avoid vaping and using e-cigarettes, either as a way to stop smoking combustible cigarettes or as a recreational drug 1
If people are using e-cigarettes to quit smoking, they should be advised to avoid using both combustible and electronic cigarettes simultaneously, and to develop a plan to eventually quit e-cigarettes as well 1
Electronic cigarette use or vaping should be specifically discouraged in youth with diabetes due to increased cardiovascular disease risk 1
Screening for tobacco, nicotine, and electronic cigarette use should be incorporated into routine healthcare visits 1

For those concerned about cholesterol levels, regular physical activity is the most effective lifestyle intervention for increasing HDL cholesterol levels 7
At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise 5 times weekly is recommended for improving cholesterol profiles 7
Smoking cessation through evidence-based methods can increase HDL cholesterol levels by up to 30% 7
Dietary modifications, including avoiding trans fats and replacing saturated fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, can help improve cholesterol profiles 7

Many people incorrectly perceive e-cigarettes as harmless or significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes 1
There are currently no long-term outcome studies on the cardiovascular risk of vaping electronic cigarettes, but existing evidence suggests they are not risk-free 6, 5
The increasing popularity of vaping marijuana with its unknown cardiovascular risks raises additional concerns 6
The 2019 outbreak of EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) highlighted the potential serious health risks associated with vaping products 5