Waterpipe tobacco smoke and health: What we have learned from rodent models?

Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is a popular form of tobacco smoking. This is due to the misperception that WPS is less detrimental than cigarette smoking. This review aimed to present the adverse effects of WPS on health outcomes through utilizing animal models.

The design of the current study is systematic review. PubMed, HINARI, Google, and SCOPUS databases were searched for the adverse effects of WPS on general health in rodents. Certain key information was extracted and collected from the included studies.

After screening different databases and removal of duplicates, 43 papers were included in this review. It was found that WPS was able to negatively affect the oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in mice. Furthermore, WPS increased the levels of Tumor necrosis factor-α and 8-isoprostane, and DNA damage in mice lung homogenates. Additionally, chronic exposure to WPS increased the serum levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in mice; indicating injury to renal tissues. The negative effect of WPS extends to affect offspring rats following prenatal WPS, in which WPS in utero lead to remarkable increase in the levels of testosterone, estrogen and follicle-stimulating hormones in WPS exposed animals.

This systematic review highlighted the adverse effects of WPS on health outcomes at cellular and biochemical levels in different tissues and organs of rodents. The current reviews' findings highlighted the great hazards presented by WPS in the selected rodents' model and the essential necessity for future improved management of WPS indoor consumption.