Researchers at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine have confirmed that vaping alters thousands of genes, with flavorings and device types driving two-thirds of these biological changes. This discovery, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology, suggests that specific product characteristics pose significant disease-related risks regardless of how frequently a person vapes.
While chronic diseases take decades to develop, analyzing changes in gene expression provides scientists with vital early clues. Previous research has already linked vaping to genetic changes associated with cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. This new study, however, isolates the exact catalysts behind these genetic shifts.
Flavors and “Mods” Drive the Most Damage
By comparing oral cell samples from 83 healthy young adults—comprising vapers, smokers, and non-users—the research team identified 3,124 altered genes in vapers. Surprisingly, the intensity and frequency of vaping played a secondary role. Instead, the chemical makeup of the flavorings and the design of the devices were the primary drivers of genetic disruption.
The study revealed a stark contrast in how different flavors regulate genes:
- Multiple Flavors: Responsible for 64.3% of flavor-related genetic changes.
- Fruit Flavors: Responsible for 31% of genetic changes.
- Sweet Flavors: Linked to 2.9% of affected genes.
- Mint or Menthol Flavors: Linked to just 0.9% of affected genes.
Additionally, users of advanced, refillable “mod” devices showed much stronger and more consistent changes in gene regulation. These higher-generation devices often deliver higher nicotine levels and contain potentially toxic additives designed to make the vapor feel smoother and more appealing.
Urgent Implications for Regulatory Bodies
Using bioinformatics, the researchers mapped these genetic changes to specific health risks. Cancer was associated with the highest number of altered genes, followed by endocrine, gastrointestinal, and neurological diseases.
These findings arrive at a critical time as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalizes its guidance on flavored e-cigarettes. Study author Professor Ahmad Besaratinia emphasizes that regulators must evaluate vaping products with greater granularity.
“We show here that vaping flavored products is associated with disease-related molecular changes, regardless of the user’s age,” Besaratinia stated. His team is currently conducting a follow-up study to identify the exact chemicals in vape liquids responsible for these genetic changes, aiming to help policymakers mandate their removal.
