European Heart Journal Obfuscates on Vaping

Prof. Thomas Menzel’s assertion of claims based on peer- reviewed research published in the “European health Journal” has drawn sizeable media Interest. The professor has called on e -cigarettes to be forbidden by law and prohibited from the market. He suggested that “An entire generation being endangered by encouragement to switch from traditional cigarettes to e cigarettes”. Prof Menzel’s inference based on evidence drawn from a sample of mice is perplexing. While he is no doubt valiant in his endeavours, the lack of scientific parsimony must be scrutinised.

The “Arterial Stiffness” and blood pressure increase described is a known, formulaic and impermanent response of vaping nicotine. This same response is exhibited by adult humans when exposed to any stimulant. Deborah Arnott, CEO of ASH, (Action on Smoking and Health) reinforces this naturally occuing phenomenon by saying “Short-term effects of e-cigs on arterial stiffness are very similar to drinking coffee, taking exercise or watching horror movies. While vaping isn’t risk free, it’s much less risky than smoking, which kills over 250 people a day in the UK.

VBI would like to note that the study is critically undermined by the lack of a relevant comparator group. Furthermore, Prof Munzel implies the rise in youth vaping observed in the US is a global Phenomenon. This a dangerous conflation and the existence of what he describes as an “Epidemic”, among European youth is a fallacy. VBI strongly support initiatives to prevent youth access to vape products, as well as working to ensure our advertising reaches our intended audience of adult smokers and vapers only.

Responding to the latest research, VBI Spokesperson, Joe Dunne has said;

“The latest research has confused an already controlled area. In the context of nicotine harm reduction, apprehension should not warn off smokers who have failed to quit smoking through other means from switching to e-cigarettes. However, many policy makers, members of the public and now scientists, do not comprehend the benefits of nicotine harm reduction, because they refuse to accept or are resolutely single minded to admit that e-cigarettes are less risky for smokers.”