Clinical Trials on the Effects of Vaping

What is it? Conditions Research Further Clinical Trials Conclusion

What is Vaping?

Vaping refers to inhaling and exhaling aerosolized particles from an e-cigarette. An e-cigarette is an electronic device filled with a nicotine-based liquid that is vaporized when the device is used.

Vaping was initially hailed as an important innovation. It was believed smokers could use e-cigarettes as an alternative to tobacco. This would reduce exposure to nicotine, tar, and other hazardous substances.

What’s more, many smokers considered vaping soothing, giving them “something to do with their hands” and a way to react in stressful situations where they would usually smoke. Some people succeeded in using vaping as a stepping stone to quit smoking.

With that said, the long term effects of vaping have not been fully studied. While many individuals view vaping as a step in the right direction to eliminate smoking, more research needs to be compiled on the effects it can have on individuals and society as a whole.

What Conditions is Vaping Associated With?

The unique condition associated with vaping is referred by the new medical acronym EVALI.

It stands for E-Cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury.

As of October 22, 2019, 34 known deaths were associated with EVALI. The median age of victims was 45 and 59% of them were men.

In total, nearly 2,300 cases of EVALI were reported to the CDC by November 20, 2019. All 50 states have been affected except Alaska.

Samples of lung tissue taken from victims have tested positive for high amounts of vitamin E acetate, a toxin in some vaping products. Vitamin E acetate is believed to be safe when used in nutritional supplements or skincare products, but not when ingested.

Lung damage caused by EVALI can cause symptoms similar to pneumonia. Damage to the lungs makes it difficult for the body to take in oxygen and distribute it throughout the body.

EVALI is distinct from, but related to, bronchiolitis obliterans – also known as popcorn lung. This is an inflammatory condition that affects the tiniest airways within the lungs. Inflammation can lead to scarring that blocks airways, causing coughing and shortness of breath.

What Research Currently Exists Around Vaping?

The association between vaping and EVALI is already an established scientific fact. However, it is not yet clear exactly what risk factors contribute to the development of EVALI.

Current research focuses on finding a definitive answer for what chemicals or other factors may be responsible for EVALI. This will help the medical community understand why some e-cigarette enthusiasts are affected and others are not, paving the way for effective treatment.

Why Are Further Vaping Clinical Trials Important?

Vaping clinical trials will be essential to the long-term health and quality of life of those affected by EVALI or popcorn lung. Evidence of disease has been found in teens as well as elderly adults.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment capable of reversing the lung damage caused by EVALI. As with other pervasive lung disorders, such as COPD, therapies are likely to focus on preserving healthy lung function.

Current Vaping Clinical Trials

This is the current list of active vaping clinical trials on record with ClinicalTrials.gov.

Patients are advised to watch this space carefully, since new clinical resources for vaping health are being developed rapidly.

  • Hippocampal Network Changes Following Mindfulness Training in Tobacco Vaping Adolescents in an Open-label, Pilot Study
    on January 31, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: Vaping Teens; Healthy Volunteers Interventions: Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program Sponsors: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Recruiting

  • Examining the Generality of Laboratory-based Findings and Their Moderators in the ITC Study
    on January 31, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: Cigarette Smoking; Nicotine Vaping Interventions: Other: All nicotine/ tobacco products at market price; Other: Nicotine vaping products at 1/2 market price; Other: Heated tobacco products at 1/2 market price.; Other: Nicotine pouch products at 1/2 market price. Sponsors: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Medical University of South Carolina; University of Waterloo; National Cancer Institute (NCI) Recruiting

  • Promotion and Mitigation Factors Leading to Illegal Tobacco Purchases
    on January 31, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: Cigarette Smoking; Nicotine Vaping Interventions: Behavioral: Promotion factors; Behavioral: Mitigation strategies Sponsors: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Medical University of South Carolina Recruiting

  • Effects of E-cigarette Use on Health
    on January 16, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: Electronic Cigarette Use Interventions: Other: Health Assessments Sponsors: University of Wisconsin, Madison; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Recruiting

  • Sex Differences in the Vascular Effects of E-cigarette Use
    on December 24, 2024 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: E-cigarette Use Interventions: Drug: Local heating + L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; nitric oxide synthase inhibitor); Other: Chronic estrogen exposure Sponsors: Anna Stanhewicz, PhD Recruiting

  • Effects of Vaping on Post-operative Recurrence of Crohn's Disease
    on December 16, 2024 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: The Impact of Vaping on Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Recurrence After Resection Sponsors: IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele Recruiting

  • Role of Inflammation in Vascular Phenotype Associated with E-cigarette Use
    on December 3, 2024 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: Electronic Cigarette Use; Endothelial Dysfunction; Inflammation Interventions: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Salsalate 750 MG Oral Tablet [DISALCID] Sponsors: University of Iowa Recruiting

  • Real-time eCounselling for Nicotine Addiction
    on November 29, 2024 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: Nicotine Use Disorder Interventions: Behavioral: CBT-MI Sponsors: Overcome Recruiting

  • Early Detection of Vaping-related Vascular Diseases
    on November 27, 2024 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: Vaping; Blood Vessel Injury Sponsors: University of Miami; Florida Department of Health Recruiting

  • Effect of Different E-cigarette Cooling Flavors on Adults' Sensory Experience TCORS 3.0
    on November 12, 2024 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: E-Cig Use Interventions: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.05%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.1%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.5%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 1.0%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 2.0%); Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.05%); Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.1%); Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.5%); Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 1.0%); Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 2.0%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.05%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.1%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.5%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 1.0%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 2.0%); Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 4.0%) Sponsors: Yale University; National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Recruiting

  • Evaluation of the Electronic Cigarette Withdrawal Syndrome
    on November 12, 2024 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: E-cigarette Use; Withdrawal Interventions: Drug: Transdermal Nicotine Patch; Drug: Placebo Nicotine Patch Sponsors: Johns Hopkins University; National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Recruiting

  • Assess the Influence of Nicotine Flux and Nicotine Form on Subjective Effects Related to Dependency
    on November 6, 2024 at 5:00 am

    Conditions: Nicotine Vaping; Nicotine Dependence; Nicotine Addiction Interventions: Combination Product: e-liquid 1; Combination Product: e-liquid 2; Combination Product: e-liquid 3; Combination Product: e-liquid 4; Combination Product: e-liquid 5 Sponsors: American University of Beirut Medical Center; National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Recruiting

Conclusion

It is not yet known whether EVALI represents a widespread health risk that could affect millions of users or is isolated to certain products or practices. Whatever the case, thousands of people face severe health effects right now.

Today’s vaping clinical trials will be essential to the health of former and future e-cigarette users. Being aware of the potential risks of vaping – and making family and friends aware of those risks – is advisable as more information becomes available.