Changes in lipid composition associated with electronic cigarette use.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research article published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, titled "Changes in lipid composition associated with electronic cigarette use." The article reports on a study that aimed to investigate quantitative alterations in the plasma lipidome associated with electronic cigarette use in healthy individuals. The researchers obtained plasma samples from chronic tobacco cigarette smokers, chronic electronic cigarette users, and non-users, and measured quantitative lipid species across different lipid sub-classes using the Sciex Lipidyzer.

Key Points:

* The study found that male and female tobacco and electronic cigarette users had distinct lipidome signatures across a number of lipid species.
* The majority of lipids were unchanged when compared to non-users.
* however, female electronic cigarette users had lower levels of plasmalogens, critical glycerophospholipids secreted by alveoli and required for normal surfactant function.
* The study also found that electronic cigarette use was associated with unique sexually dimorphic signatures in lipid species that were independent from nicotine use.
* The authors validated some of the previously observed effects of tobacco cigarette use on lipid composition and found that electronic cigarette use was associated with alterations in lipid species known to be critical for lung function.
* The study enrolled 77 male and 42 female participants, and plasma samples were obtained from healthy male and female subjects, ages 21-45 years, who were chronic (≥ 12 months) tobacco cigarette smokers, chronic (≥ 12 months) electronic cigarette users, or non-smokers.
* The study measured quantitative lipid species across different lipid sub-classes using the Sciex Lipidyzer.
* The authors used aNOVa with correction for statistical analysis of lipid composition between the three groups and principal component analysis.

Main Message:
The main message of this research article is that electronic cigarette use is associated with alterations in lipid species known to be critical for lung function. The study found that female electronic cigarette users had lower levels of plasmalogens, which are critical glycerophospholipids secreted by alveoli and required for normal surfactant function. The study also found that electronic cigarette use was associated with unique sexually dimorphic signatures in lipid species that were independent from nicotine use. These findings suggest that electronic cigarette use may have negative effects on lung function, and further research is needed to fully understand the potential health risks associated with electronic cigarette use.

Middlekauff hR, William KJ, Su B, et al. Changes in lipid composition associated with electronic cigarette use. Journal of translational medicine. 2020;18(1):379. doi:10.1186/s12967-020-02557-9