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RIVERSIDE, CA – A new study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, has raised concerns about the potential risks of mentholated electronic cigarettes to developing embryos. The research, published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine, suggests that menthol, a common flavoring agent in e-cigarettes, could negatively impact critical stages of embryonic development.
The study utilized human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to model early embryonic development and examined the effects of low concentrations of menthol on these cells. Researchers discovered that menthol concentrations, similar to those found in the blood of pregnant women who vape, activated stress-related channels in the hESCs known as transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.
“This activation led to inhibition of cell growth, increased cell death, and abnormal cell movement in the hESCs,” explained Shabnam Etemadi, the study’s first author and a bioengineering graduate student. “These changes could interfere with a critical stage of development called gastrulation, potentially increasing the risk of birth defects.”
Gastrulation, a crucial phase in embryonic development, involves the movement of cells to form the three primary germ layers—the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm—which are essential for the formation of all future organs and tissues. Disruptions during this stage can lead to significant structural birth defects.
The researchers found that menthol activated the TRPA1 channel, one of the TRP channels, at nanomolar concentrations, levels predicted to be present in the blood of pregnant women who vape and thus, reaching the embryo.
“These germ layers serve as the building blocks for all future organs and tissues in the embryo; any disruption during this stage can lead to significant structural birth defects due to the misallocation of cells destined for specific tissues and organs,” Etemadi added.
Senior author Prue Talbot emphasized the need for further research on the effects of vaping during pregnancy on embryonic and fetal development, particularly concerning flavor chemicals like menthol.
“The use of e-cigarettes by pregnant women should be discouraged until the effects on their embryos of flavor chemicals, such as menthol, are fully understood,” Talbot stated.
The study underscores the importance of understanding the potential risks associated with vaping during pregnancy.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a single study and further research is needed to fully understand the effects of mentholated e-cigarettes on fetal development. The information provided should not be interpreted as definitive medical advice. Pregnant women should consult with their healthcare providers regarding any concerns about vaping or other potential risks during pregnancy.(
More information: Shabnam Etemadi et al, Menthol, a Consumer Product Additive, Adversely Effects Human Embryonic Cells via Activation of TRPM8 and TRPA1 Channels, Stem Cells Translational Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szae099. academic.oup.com/stcltm/articl … /8096326?login=false
