UofL study disputes claim that nicotine in some e-cigarettes is less harmful

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The University of Louisville is warning smokers about alternatives to cigarettes that claim to be less harmful.

A new study shows the nicotine in certain types of electronic cigarettes can increase the risk for an irregular heartbeat.

Tests in mice showed that nicotine salts used in pod-based e-cigarettes led to heart arrhythmias and could trigger a fight-or-flight response in higher doses.

"This suggests the nicotine is harmful to the heart and counters popular claims that the nicotine itself is harmless," Alex Carll, an assistant professor in UofL's Department of Physiology who led the study, said in a news release Thursday. "Our findings provide new evidence that nicotine type and concentration modify the adverse cardiovascular effects of e-cigarette aerosols, which may have important regulatory implications."

Researchers said regulating nicotine salts could help mitigate the health risks of vaping.

The research also suggests choosing e-cigarettes with freebase nicotine instead of nicotine salts, or using e-cigarettes with a lower nicotine content could reduce the risk of harm.

To read the study, published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, click here.