Replacing smoking with vaping during pregnancy: Impacts on metabolic health in mice.

Introduction:
This manuscript reports a study investigating the metabolic impacts of replacing cigarette smoke with e-cigarette vapor during pregnancy in a mouse model. The study aims to determine the effects of e-cigarette exposure on systemic and hepatic metabolic profiles in both the mothers and their offspring. The findings provide valuable insights into the potential health implications of e-cigarette use during pregnancy.

Key Points:

* The study used a Balb/c mouse model and exposed female mice to cigarette smoke or e-cigarette vapor during pregnancy.
* The researchers measured various metabolic markers, including glucose and lipid levels, in both the mothers and their offspring.
* In the mothers, cigarette smoke exposure led to decreased plasma insulin levels, increased hepatic gluconeogenesis, and elevated plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFa).
* E-cigarette replacement during pregnancy partially prevented the reduction in body weight and restored plasma insulin levels but did not fully normalize hepatic gluconeogenesis or NEFa levels.
* In the offspring, cigarette smoke exposure resulted in impaired glucose tolerance, increased plasma NEFa levels, and elevated liver triglyceride concentrations.
* E-cigarette replacement during pregnancy improved lipid homeostasis in the offspring but did not ameliorate glucose intolerance.
* The study suggests that e-cigarette use during pregnancy may have less severe metabolic impacts compared to cigarette smoke exposure, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Main Message:
The study indicates that e-cigarette use during pregnancy may be less harmful to maternal and offspring metabolic profiles compared to cigarette smoke exposure. however, e-cigarette replacement during pregnancy did not fully restore normal metabolic function and, therefore, cannot be considered entirely safe. Further research is necessary to understand the long-term effects of e-cigarette exposure during pregnancy and to establish safe guidelines for their use in this population.

Li G, Chan YL, Wang B, Saad S, Oliver BG, Chen h. Replacing smoking with vaping during pregnancy: Impacts on metabolic health in mice. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, NY). 2020;96:293-299. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.07.012