Vitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model.

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the ultrastructural effects of electronic cigarettes' (EC) exposure in rat lingual nerves and muscles and assessed the therapeutic roles of vitamins C, E, and their combination.

Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were allocated into 5 groups.

Control: injected saline intraperitoneally, EC group: injected EC-liquid containing nicotine at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg, EC + C group: injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with vitamin C, EC + C group injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with vitamin E, and EC + C&E group: injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with a combination of both vitamins. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and oxidative stress biomarkers malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were used to assess tissue damage and antioxidant effects.

Results: EC group showed disrupted myelin sheaths, abnormal mitochondria, elevated MDA, and reduced SOD activity, indicating oxidative damage. EC + C group showed muscular recovery but did not significantly improve oxidative markers (p > 0.05) when compared to EC group. EC + E and EC + C&E groups showed regular myelin sheaths, normal mitochondria, and significant improvements in MDA and SOD levels compared to the EC group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Vitamin E alone or combined with vitamin C effectively mitigates EC-induced oxidative stress and ultrastructural damage in muscular and nerve tissues. Vitamin C alone offers insufficient protection, mostly supporting muscular recovery without significantly improving nerve integrity or oxidative status.