Smokers in Dundee are being recruited for a new study that will examine the potential health risks of vaping.
Researchers at Dundee University are looking for 135 volunteers who have been smoking for at least two years and who smoke more than 15 tobacco cigarettes a day, or the equivalent amount of rolling tobacco, for the vital research.
The effects of smoking on blood vessels will then be compared to the blood vessels of those who use e-cigarettes.
The VESUVIUS study is being funded by the British Heart Foundation who say more work is needed to understand the potential impact of vaping on heart and circulatory health.
Smokers who sign up for the study will be put into one of three possible treatment groups: continuing with tobacco cigarettes, switching to e-cigarettes with nicotine or e-cigarettes without nicotine.
Dr Jacob George, who is leading the study, said: “Many people are using e-cigarettes to help them stop smoking and they are sold on the principle that they’re a much safer alternative to traditional cigarettes because they don’t contain harmful substances like tobacco and tar.
“But just like traditional cigarettes, most of the do contain nicotine, which can be harmful to blood vessels.
“So it’s essential to know how much safer they really are, compared to tobacco cigarettes.”
Participants will have to make two visits to Ninewells Hosptial, four weeks apart. There, they will provide blood and breath samples as well as receiving a blood pressure check and undergoing a non-invasive ultrasound examination of blood vessels in their arm.
British Heart Foundation Scotland director James Cant said: “We all know that smoking tobacco raises our risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease.
“E-cigs have been hailed by some as a great way to help smokers quit but little is actually known about their impact on our heart and circulatory system. That’s why we’re delighted to funding this important research.”
Anyone who wants to take part should contact trial manager Pippa Hopkinson on 01382 383195 or 07850 540230.
Alternatively, they can email vesuvius@dundee.ac.uk
