Catania, Italy, 4 June 2025 – A groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports reveals that smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes (ECs) or heated tobacco products (HTPs) can achieve significant improvements in aerobic capacity—as early as four weeks after quitting cigarettes. The study, led by researchers at the CoEHAR, Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction of the University of Catania, provides the first-ever prospective evidence that substituting combustible cigarettes with noncombustible alternatives can measurably enhance cardiorespiratory performance.
The study, a secondary analysis of the CEASEFIRE trial, used the Chester Step Test to monitor changes in VO₂max, the gold-standard metric for aerobic fitness. Smokers who either quit entirely or substantially reduced their cigarette consumption showed rapid and clinically meaningful increases in VO₂max. These gains were observed equally in users of ECs and HTPs, highlighting the potential of combustion-free products as harm reduction tools that also restore physical performance.
“For young smokers, improved cardiovascular health or reduced cancer risk may seem like distant concerns,” said Prof. Riccardo Polosa, co-author of the study. “But the promise of better fitness, faster recovery, and enhanced athletic performance speaks directly to their lifestyle and aspirations. This could be a more persuasive argument for quitting than traditional risk-based messaging.”
Prof. Lucia Spicuzza, co-author of the study, emphasized the clinical relevance of the results:
“We observed significant improvements in aerobic capacity just weeks after switching. This indicates that the benefits of moving away from combustion are not only real but also rapid. It’s a strong message—especially for those who engage in sports or simply want to feel better in their daily lives.”
The researchers argue that leveraging health narratives around sport performance and physical endurance could be key to motivating smoking cessation or product switching in younger populations—particularly among those less responsive to long-term disease warnings.
The findings underscore the urgent need for public health strategies that move beyond fear-based campaigns and instead empower smokers—especially youth—with tangible, short-term health benefits. As policymakers continue to debate the role of noncombustible nicotine alternatives, this study adds crucial evidence that switching can result not only in harm reduction but also in rapid improvements in fitness and quality of life.
