The Effects of Nicotine on Development

Abstract

Recently, there has been a significant increase in the use of noncombustible nicotine-containing products, including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Of increasing popularity are e-cigarettes that can deliver high doses of nicotine over short periods of time. These devices have led to a rise in nicotine addiction in adolescent users who were nonsmokers. Use of noncombustible nicotine products by pregnant mothers is also increasing and can expose the developing fetus to nicotine, a known teratogen. In addition, young children are frequently exposed to secondhand and thirdhand nicotine aerosols generated by e-cigarettes, with little understanding of the effects these exposures can have on health. With the advent of these new nicotine-delivery systems, many concerns have arisen regarding the short-and long-term health effects of nicotine on childhood health during all stages of development. Although health studies on nicotine exposure alone are limited, educating policy makers and health care providers on the potential health effects of noncombustible nicotine is needed because public acceptance of these products has become so widespread. Most studies evaluating the effects of nicotine on health have been undertaken in the context of smoke exposure. Nevertheless, in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies strongly indicate that nicotine exposure alone can adversely affect the nervous, respiratory, immune, and cardiovascular systems, particularly when exposure occurs during critical developmental periods. In this review, we have included both preclinical and clinical studies to identify age-related health effects of nicotine exposure alone, examining the mechanisms underlying these effects.

Association between Non-Restorative Sleep and Quality of Life in Chinese Adolescents

“…The effects of age, medical conditions, and exercise habits in Chinese youths’ health and well-being could be applicable to other contexts [ 16 , 18 , 20 ]. Interestingly, in a multivariable analysis, being a former smoker or current drinker were non-significant predictors of a poorer QOL, which was inconsistent with prior research indicating that smoking or drinking had inverse effects on adolescents’ QOL [ 21 , 34 ]. However, although former smokers were more likely to experience physical and psychological disorders, their likelihood of engaging in risky health behaviors was comparable with that of non-smokers [ 35 ].…”

Maternal Diet, Nutritional Status, and Birth-Related Factors Influencing Offspring’s Bone Mineral Density: A Narrative Review of Observational, Cohort, and Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Because some of the assessed factors may be modifiable (i.a. nutrition or smoking during pregnancy), education programs directed at pregnant women would be beneficial, as those factors may also influence other aspects of a child’s development [ 2 , 83 , 84 ]. Hence, further attention should be paid to prevention strategies.…”

Systematic Review of Nicotine Exposure’s Effects on Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells

“…In the fetal brain acetylcholine signaling is important for coordinating proper assembly of the neural tissues [ 143 ]. Maternal cigarette smoking has been associated with structural and functional alterations within the brain, including in the mPFC [ 144 ], striatum, amygdala, and hippocampus [ 145 ], and numerous cognitive and behavioral changes [ 146 , 147 ], such as deficits in learning and memory [ 148 ], auditory dysfunction [ 136 ], hyperactivity [ 149 ], and depressive-like behaviors [ 150 ], in the offspring (for a full review of pre-clinical and clinical evidence of nicotine’s effects on development in the nervous system and more see [ 151 ]).…”