Effects of electronic cigarettes on the liver (literature review)

At present, the impact of electronic cigarettes on human health is being actively investigated. The liver is a vital multifunctional organ whose function can be impaired by various toxic factors such as alcohol or traditional cigarette smoking. In this review, we examine and synthesize current scientific literature on the effects of electronic cigarettes on the liver, drawing on publications retrieved through Google Scholar, Elsevier, and PubMed. The review discusses how certain chemicals found in e-cigarette liquids and their derivatives act on the liver, the relationship between e-cigarette use and oxidative-stress parameters, their influence on mitochondria, and changes in organ-specific enzymes that serve as biomarkers of liver injury. Histopathological alterations detected in liver tissue after exposure to electronic cigarettes are described, and differences between nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-liquids are considered. The possible role of vaping in the development of liver diseases in humans including acute non-infectious toxic hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is explored. On the basis of available scientific evidence, we conclude that electronic cigarettes are not harmless and exert a significant negative effect. At the same time, further studies on the impact of electronic cigarettes on the liver and other organs and systems are warranted.