Vaping might be a more healthful alternative to smoking, but this does not mean that it is harmless. This is the takeaway message from a new study, which found that some flavorings added to e-cigarette liquids could be damaging for the heart.

Share on Pinterest Some flavorings in e-cigarette liquids could harm the heart, say researchers.

The research team identified a number of chemicals used to flavor to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) liquids — including cinnamon and citrus — that could impair the function of heart muscle cells.

Lead researcher Matthew A. Nystoriak, Ph.D., of the University of Louisville in Kentucky, and colleagues recently presented their findings at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2017, held in Anaheim, CA.

The abstract from the presentation has also been published in the journal Circulation.

Since their introduction to the American market around a decade ago, e-cigarettes have soared in popularity — particularly among youths. According to a 2016 report from the Surgeon General, e-cigarette use among high school students in the United States increased by a whopping 900 percent between 2011 and 2015.

The battery-operated devices are often marketed as a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes, and some research suggests that this is the case. However, scientists are increasingly uncovering the potential dangers of vaping.

Recent studies reported by Medical News Today have associated e-cigarette use with increased cardiovascular risk and abnormal cardiac activity. Such studies have pointed to the nicotine in e-cigarette liquids as the likely cause.

The new study from Nystoriak and team provides further evidence of how e-cigarettes might harm the heart, but, this time, chemical flavorings are the offender.