Vaping FAQs

is vitamin vaping bad

by Mr. Jeff Wisoky DVM Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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Even among vitamin vape companies there is debate over which nutrients could be potentially harmful when inhaled. Some companies told Scientific American that they thought Vitamin D was toxic, while others said they thought B12 might be carcinogenic when taken orally. Risk assessment is a major problem with vaping in general.

The FDA is warning consumer and cracking down on manufacturers who sell vitamin vapes. They note, Some vaping products are being illegally offered for sale with unproven health or wellness claims, including improving mental clarity or treating tumors or asthma.Feb 3, 2022

Full Answer

Is the vitamin vaping trend doing more harm than good?

While the vitamin vaping trend is generating some buzz, experts say it does way more harm than good. According to the VitaStik website, one stick of this stuff contains 20 servings of Vitamin B12 (which regulates the production of red blood cells), and roughly one recommended daily dose of Vitamins A, C, D, E, coenzyme Q10, and collagen.

Can you really vape vitamins?

Vaping vitamins is “theoretically possible,” says Guenther Hochhaus, a pharmacologist at the University of Florida who studies drug delivery in the lungs. “It would have to go deep into the lungs” where the membranes are thinnest and most permeable, he says.

Is vitamin vaping bad for Your Lungs?

According to Dr. Norman Edelman, a senior scientific adviser at the American Lung Association, it is establihsed that smoking e-cigarettes causes irritation of the airways and bronchitis, but it is difficult to gauge the long-term effects of vitamin vaping because it is a relatively new fad.

Can vaping kill you?

However, there has also been an outbreak of lung injuries and deaths associated with vaping. As of Jan. 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 60 deaths in patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI).

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Are vitamin vapes bad for you?

Furthermore, the use of your “B12 VITAMINVAPE” product raises safety concerns for the agency because the ingredients or the impurities in oral inhalation products may trigger laryngospasm or bronchospasm, may be toxic to the tissues in the upper or lower airways, or may be absorbed and exert undesirable systemic ...

Is VitaminVape addictive?

So being “less harmful” is an easy bar to reach. One good thing about the herbal and vitamin vape liquids is that they are free of nicotine, which is highly addictive. Still, one study found that even non-nicotine e-cigarettes may be a gateway to cigarette smoking among teens.

Are B12 vapes safe?

The cartridges claim to give you energy, but they could be doing more harm than good. These buzzy vape cartridges containing vitamin B12 claim to gives you a "better buzz" and "natural energy." But are they really all they're cracked up to be?

Is VitaminVape FDA approved?

Currently, no vaping products are approved by the FDA to prevent or treat any health conditions or diseases....Warning Letters.FirmProduct Name and Image*NV Nutrition, LLC“Vaporizer" and "diffuser” productsVitaCig, Inc."VitaCig" productsVitamin Vape, Inc.“B12 VITAMINVAPE”2 more rows•Nov 9, 2021

What's the healthiest vape?

The PAX 3 is consistently ranked one of the healthiest vapes, and it's an incredibly customizable conduction vaporizer suitable for dry herb and wax. Heated through thermal conduction, the PAX 3 doesn't sear your material.

Does vitamin E leave your lungs?

The analysis provided evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury in the lungs” [15]. Vitamin E acetate is sticky, giving it the ability to remain in the lungs. THC was also reported to be found in 82% of samples from 28 patients, which was remarkable as THC tends to leave the lungs quickly [16].

Is zero nicotine vape safe?

Some vape product manufacturers claim that vaping is a completely safe alternative to smoking. However, early research into the safety of the practice suggests this is not the case. In fact, it appears that vaping, even without nicotine, can have harmful effects on the body.

Is it better to vape or smoke?

1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.

Why is vaping good for you?

The e-liquids used in these devices are less harmful and do not leave any residue, such as tar, in your lungs. Also, it does not affect people and around you when you smoke. Vapes help in reducing your blood pressure, improve your immunity, ease your breathing, and also, make your lungs function normally.

Is there an alternative to vaping?

“They can speak to an addiction specialist, there's nicotine gum, nicotine patches, things that have less harmful side effects than vaping.” There are only a few FDA-approved stop smoking aids. These include over-the counter nicotine skin patches, nicotine gum and lozenges.

What vapes are FDA approved?

Recently, the first disposable vape device passed the PMTA approval process. The NJOY Daily Rich Tobacco and the NJOY Daily Extra Rich Tobacco disposable vapes have now both been approved for sale. A majority of NJOY's other flavors have been given MDOs, or marketing denial orders.

Does vaping deplete energy?

During the first few days after taking up vaping, chances are that you'll feel exhausted with low energy levels. If that happens, the solution could be to choose e-liquids with lower levels of nicotine.

Is GetVita a vape?

GetVita is a innovative Organic Vitamin Diffuser Vitamins formulated and produced in the USA with the highest purity of certified organic ingredients. Designed for better absorption and assimilation to support your body's essential needs.

Is there an alternative to vaping?

“They can speak to an addiction specialist, there's nicotine gum, nicotine patches, things that have less harmful side effects than vaping.” There are only a few FDA-approved stop smoking aids. These include over-the counter nicotine skin patches, nicotine gum and lozenges.

How long does a vitamin vape last?

Each vaporizer is designed to last 2-3 weeks of daily use as directed.

Does vaping deplete energy?

During the first few days after taking up vaping, chances are that you'll feel exhausted with low energy levels. If that happens, the solution could be to choose e-liquids with lower levels of nicotine.

What Do Industry Experts Have to Say About Vitamin Vaping?

Here's what some of the industry's leading experts are saying about the topic on social media:

Is it safe to inhale vaporized vitamins?

In assessing these results, it seems that there was at least some benefit associated with inhaling vaporized vitamins. However, the issues with each of these studies is that they were relatively short-term and were conducted in diseased individuals or animals. Consequently, it is not clear whether or not inhaling may cause any damage to the lungs or would necessarily have the same results in healthy individuals as in diseased patients.

Is vaping legal?

Regarding legality, there is no question that the FDA does not view vitamin vaping as a legitimate form of nutrient supplementation. The only FDA-recognized route for nutrient supplementation is the gastrointestinal tract—in other words, the supplement has to be swallowed, not inhaled. Consequently, the sale of vitamins and supplements in vapor form is not legal.

Does vaping cause bronchitis?

According to Dr. Norman Edelman, a senior scientific adviser at the American Lung Association, it is establihsed that smoking e-cigarettes causes irritation of the airways and bronchitis, but it is difficult to gauge the long-term effects of vitamin vaping because it is a relatively new fad.

Is vaping your vitamins safe?

Verdict: Vaping Your Vitamins Is Not Advisable. Until there is more science on about the safety and efficacy of vitamin vaping in healthy populations, it is my considered opinion that the supplementation of vitamins is best achieved via the oral route.

What are the health risks of air pollution?

These risks are in line with what happens from long-term exposure to small particulate air pollution, which the World Health Organization says can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and cancers.

Is food good for vaping?

Speaking of diet, food is a great way — although maybe not as sexy as vaping — to get your vitamins. “We have an exquisitely designed gastrointestinal track whose sole purpose is to break down, absorb, and metabolize vitamins and nutrients,” said Lackey.

Can you inhale vitamins?

Companies claim you can now inhale your vitamins for health. Getty Images

Can you absorb vitamins through the small intestine?

Some people do have difficulty absorbing certain vitamins — such as folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin C — through their small intestine.

Is vape liquid organic?

Some companies selling “healthy” vape liquids also market their products as containing organic ingredients and no chemicals.

Is it safe to inhale echinacea?

What’s needed is research showing that inhaling things like vitamin B-12 or echinacea is safe and actually works.

Is e-cigarette vapor a toxic substance?

According to a report released earlier this year by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, studies show that e-cigarette vapor contains fewer kinds and lower levels of toxic chemicals than cigarette smoke.

Can e-cigarettes deliver nutrients?

Companies claim e-cigarettes can deliver nutrients, but experts say the science looks shaky

Does Kwitel's product cause harm?

Kwitel says his company has taken great pains to ensure its product will not cause harm. He and his colleagues sent their products to a third-party chemical testing lab to check if vitamins and other ingredients were being destroyed or transformed into harmful compounds from the heating and vaporization. “There’s a lot of stuff that didn’t work,” he says. “We put a tremendous amount of time and money into this.”

Is nutrient vaping safe?

There may be unknown risks to nutrient vaping, Sparq’s Kwitel says—but adds his company is simply trying to create a better option for consumers who already vape or smoke. “We know [some vape ingredients] on the market are not healthy and we decided to stay away from that,” he says, referring to other nutrient vapes as well as nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. “We want to provide a non-harmful alternative to people already vaping.” He compares Sparq’s products with reduced-fat junk food. “Are half-fat potato chips 100 percent healthy for you? No. Is it much better than the alternative? Absolutely.”

Can you vape vitamins?

Vaping vitamins is “theoretically possible,” says Guenther Hochhaus, a pharmacologist at the University of Florida who studies drug delivery in the lungs. “It would have to go deep into the lungs” where the membranes are thinnest and most permeable, he says. But until more detailed studies are completed, he adds, how well the lung actually does take in nutrients is up for debate.

Is vaping a bad idea?

Don't be fooled! I think that unless you're vaping as a means of quitting cigarette smoking, it's a bad idea. Adding vitamins doesn't turn it into a health move. In fact, the American Lung Association thinks you shouldn't vape at all; you really don't want to be putting particles into your system that haven't been tested.

Do vape cartridges give you energy?

The cartridges claim to give you energy, but they could be doing more harm than good. These buzzy vape cartridges containing vitamin B12 claim to gives you a "better buzz" and "natural energy.".

Is vaping bad for you?

Risk assessment is a major problem with vaping in general. It just hasn't been around long enough for proper long-term studies, although we do know there are risks of inhaling heavy metals, and potential damage to the immune system from vaping the sweeteners used in some flavours.

Is there a study on B12 in vaping?

What's more, these studies used a " cool mist " and not a vaporiser. To this day, there are no studies that have been done on actually vaping B12.

Is vitamin B12 a non-toxic substance?

It sells vitamin B12 vapour that it claims is " completely non-toxic .". The science page of its website states that vitamin B12 is immediately absorbed when it is inhaled and is "many times more efficient than pill absorption, and comparable only to injections (though injections are still the most efficient).".

Is vaping vitamins good?

People Are Vaping Vitamins Now. Here's Why Maybe That's Not a Great Idea. The vaping of vitamins is a new health craze being sold by some companies as a better alternative to shots and pills. By puffing on nicotine-free, tobacco-free vitamin cocktails, consumers can supposedly ensure they are receiving all their basic nutritional needs.

Is vitamin B12 vaporising?

VitaminVape claims that "vitamin B12 is NOT sensitive to the heat associated with vaporising," but there is zero evidence to back that claim up.

Is inhaling vitamins a rational idea?

Ron Crystal, a practicing pulmonologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian, told Vox that while inhaling vitamins may seem like a "rational concept", it is still unclear how well the lungs actually take in nutrients and what the effects might be.

What are some examples of vitamin vapes?

Some examples: NutroVape (a line of 11 different blends meant to work in place of an oral supplement), Breathe (a vitamin B12 vape pen), and Nutriair (which formulates blends to promote benefits including more energy to better sleep).

Who invented the B12 vape?

George Michalopoulos, founder of Breathe, certainly thinks so. He came up with the idea of a vitamin B12 vape about five years ago, around the same time that vaping was starting to become popular. "I was trying to be vegan—although I no longer am—and when you're vegan, you're at greater risk for being deficient in vitamin B12 ," he says. He started doing some research and found a study about inhaling vitamin B12. "The research said [B12 was better absorbed when inhaled] than taking it as a pill, but not as effective as the shot," he says. (It should be noted that this study he references is from the '50s and was performed on only three different people, so it is far from conclusive. And another small study from 1967 found that inhaling B12 "is considered to have no therapeutic application.")

Who makes Sparq vapes?

Avi Kwitel, co-founder of the vitamin vape brand Sparq Vitamin Air, on the other hand, is comfortable calling his company's product something that "promotes wellness.". He says that his brand, which sells three vitamin blends—one meant to boost metabolism, one for energy, and one for anti-aging—is rooted in wellness.

Is metal heating coil inconclusive?

To this, Michalopoulos says the research about trace metal exposure through metal heating coil is inconclusive, and any studies that have been done have used higher-powered vaporizers that undergo a much higher heat than what the ones most vitamin vaping products use.

Do vapes contain vitamins?

Vitamin vapes also contain other ingredients besides the vitamins, something Dr. Blaha takes issue with. "None of these products are pure whatever the vitamin is," he says. "They also contain vegetable glycerin and natural flavors —and it's never listed what those natural flavors are exactly—and then there's the metal heating coil, ...

How many deaths from vaping in 2019?

As of November 13, 2019, there were 2,172 confirmed and probable lung injury cases "associated with the use of e-cigarette or vaping, products as reported by 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as reported by the CDC. 42 deaths have been confirmed in 24 states and the District of Columbia: Alabama, California (4), Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia (3), Illinois (4), Indiana (4), Kansas (2), Massachusetts (2), Michigan, Minnesota (3), Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, Tennessee (2), Texas, Utah, and Virginia" [21].  Vaping, may also have harmful psychological effects with a strong association between vaping, major depression and suicidal behavior as reported in a large new study [22]. The likely contributing culprit, nicotine. Prevalence of lung disease attributable to vaping is likely under reported as cases brought to the CDC are some of the most severe. For now EVALI remains a diagnosis that is made after exclusion of other conditions and needs to be reported to the CDC.

What is the purpose of vaping?

Vaping was initially marketed as a smoking cessation aid to help with cessation of cigarette smoking. E-cigarettes first took public attention in the mass media for unexpectedly blowing up, causing burns and severe facial damage [6]. In the past decade, a number of alternative vaping products have rapidly gained consumer demand, especially in, adolescents, due to the belief that they are much safer (lower nicotine content) than traditional cigarettes, choice of advertisements different flavors and ease of access to electronic nicotine delivery systems (such as e-cigarettes and vape pens). Except for menthol, the use of flavor additives has been banned from traditional cigarettes, whereas e-cigarettes are marketed in over 7,000 different flavors. Many of those flavors are found in candy and popular soft drinks and, because adolescents are familiar with such flavors, e-cigarettes are appealing to them. Tobacco smoking is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction in a causative and dose-dependent manner [7]. Data from 5,400 smokers and 2,025 former smokers have found that the average number of cigarettes smoked per day by people who regularly used e-cigarettes fell by 4.4 over about two years, compared with only 2.7 for those who did not use e-cigarettes. Sixty-seven percent more e-cigarette users than non-users quit smoking altogether. However, there were 70% more relapses among former smokers who used e-cigarettes than among those who did not use the devices [8].

What are the ingredients in vape?

The ingredients of vape that are suspected of contributing to the development of vaping-related illnesses are THC and vitamin E acetate. THC is an ingredient used in many vape products, and many patients experiencing vape-related complications have admitted to using THC-containing products in the past, leading the FDA to believe that THC may play a role in the vape-related illness outbreak. The FDA has issued a public warning to stop using THC-containing vape products, as the compound may be contributing to lung illnesses related to vaping. Specifically, vitamin E acetate is most commonly used as an additive in THC-containing vape/e-cigarette products; vitamin E acetate is an oily chemical added to THC vaping liquids used to thicken or dilute them. A vape-related injury concerning a teenage boy in Canada has recently gained the media’s attention as well. The 17-year-old boy vaped “intensively,” adding THC to his devices. He initially showed symptoms aligning with bronchiolitis (lung condition normally caused by a bacterial or viral infection), but many patients that have vape-related illnesses in the United States have experienced damage to the alveoli; this type of injury was not found. Instead, his case aligned more with an injury called “popcorn lung,” an ailment most commonly seen in factory workers of microwave popcorn plants nearly 20 years ago. This new vape-related case calls for further exploration into the toxicity of vape liquid, as the patient’s condition could have been caused by the THC added to the vaping devices, or the chemical that affected factory workers in the past - diacetyl. Diacetyl is present in many e-cigarette flavors [14]. The American Lung Association has called for the FDA to require that diacetyl and other hazardous chemicals be removed from e-cigarette cartridges.

When were electronic cigarettes invented?

Electronic cigarettes were first developed in China in the early 2000s and introduced to the US market in 2007 [5]. In the US, the product experienced explosive growth, with the number of electronic cigarette users doubling every year between 2008 and 2012. While traditional cigarettes are smoked through combustion, e-cigarettes are "vaped," and the resultant aerosols potentially contain a reduced number of potentially toxic chemicals, such as nicotine and flavorings such as diacetyl and cinnamaldehyde, as well as byproducts such as formaldehyde and acrolein caused by the potential overheating of propylene glycol, and glycerin.

Does vaping affect the lungs?

The evidence on how vitamin E acetate affects the lungs of vape users is notable because vitamin E acetate has been acknowledged as a majorly harmful chemical that may be contributing to vape-related illnesses and deaths. Lung scans have revealed different outlines of lung parenchyma suggesting possible different processes in injury. One pattern points to lipoid pneumonia which can occur with lipid containing ingredients or oils aerosolized into the airways causing inflammation and compromised function [17]. The respiratory epithelium has a complicated network of extracellular membranes essential for breathing and survival. Surfactant membranes form a stable monolayer at the air-liquid interface, reducing the surface tension at the air-liquid interface, therefore stabilizing the lung against collapse and helping lungs expand. Oil in the lung interferes with this ordered/disordered lipid phase coexistence in lung surfactant with alterations in phase coexistence [18]. The American Medical Association has made calls for a ban on vaping products, and Washington state has now banned vape products containing vitamin E acetate, thought to be linked to illness [19-20]. Although the substance is not banned in the United States and has not been officially declared as a deadly substance, many states are making advances to ban the use of the chemical in vape products. States like Massachusetts are considering a ban on flavored tobacco and vape products, and in New York, Manhattan is expected to become the largest city to ban all vaping flavors except tobacco. Other states that have already banned the use of vitamin E acetate in vape products include Colorado and Ohio. Greater public awareness of this deadly condition helps with implementing comprehensive, population-based interventions for this preventable disease.

Is vaping dangerous?

CDC has detected vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern among people with the lung injury. Vitamin E acetate is a condensing agent in vaping products, and all injured lung fluid samples appear to harbor this agent. The mysterious outbreak is identified in individuals vaping within the 90 days, ranging over a few days to developing over several weeks. There is growing evidence that vaping is hazardous to your health including immediate health dangers such as death from respiratory causes, long term health effects, cardiovascular events, depression which increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide. This review article summarizes the growing knowledge of acute respiratory complications associated with vaping.

Does vaping cause lung injury?

The New York Times recently reported an analysis of lung fluid samples from 29 patients with vaping-related illnesses (including two who died), and the analysis suggests that vitamin E acetate is a "very strong culprit" in causing lung injuries. The lung fluid samples were collected from patients across the United States so that these findings may have implications nationwide. Moreover, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, explained, “For the first time, we have detected a potential toxin of concern, vitamin E acetate, from biological samples from patients… The analysis provided evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury in the lungs” [15]. Vitamin E acetate is sticky, giving it the ability to remain in the lungs. THC was also reported to be found in 82% of samples from 28 patients, which was remarkable as THC tends to leave the lungs quickly [16].

How many people died from vaping in 2020?

As of Jan. 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 60 deaths in patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI).

How many chemicals are in e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic. While we don’t know exactly what chemicals are in e-cigarettes, Blaha says “there’s almost no doubt that they expose you to fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes.”

Why are e-cigarettes so popular?

First, many teens believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Second, e-cigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigarettes.

How many people want to quit smoking?

If you have thought about trying to kick a smoking habit, you’re not alone. Nearly 7 of 10 smokers say they want to stop. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health — smoking harms nearly every organ in your body, including your heart. Nearly one-third of deaths from heart disease are the result of smoking and secondhand smoke.

Is vaping bad for you?

Is vaping bad for you? There are many unknowns about vaping, including what chemicals make up the vapor and how they affect physical health over the long term . “People need to understand that e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous to your health,” says Blaha. “Emerging data suggests links to chronic lung disease and asthma, and associations between dual use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular disease. You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe.”

Is nicotine a substance?

Nicotine is the primary agent in both regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is also a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.

Can you use THC in a vape?

The CDC recommends that people: Do not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Avoid using informal sources, such as friends, family or online dealers to obtain a vaping device. Do not modify or add any substances to a vaping device that are not intended by the manufacturer.

What is the culprit in vaping?

Vitamin E acetate is a key culprit in the vaping illness outbreak. The sticky chemical has been found in samples taken from people who got sick or died from vaping-related illness. By Julia Belluz @juliaoftoronto Nov 11, 2019, 10:30am EST. Share this story.

What is vitamin E acetate used for?

And vitamin E acetate has reportedly been used as a cheap cutting agent by illicit cannabis suppliers.

Is there direct evidence of vitamin E acetate in the lungs?

But Schuchat also emphasized the CDC’s investigation isn’t over: Officials still can’ t say for sure that vitamin E acetate is the source of harm in all cases.

Is it safe to inhale vitamin E?

The chemical is a synthetic form of vitamin E, and it’s used — safely — in nutritional supplements and skin creams. But it isn’t safe to inhale. Sticky and honey-like, it can hang around in the lungs, health officials said, interfering with how they function. Samples taken from 29 patients in 10 states, for a CDC Mortality and Morbidity Weekly report released Friday, found the chemical in all samples, while other potential toxins — such as plant and mineral oils — weren’t. It’s “direct evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury within the lungs,” Schuchat said.

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