What vitamins does vaping deplete and how does it affect your health?

October 19, 2025 •

5 min read

According to a UCLA study, a single 30-minute vaping session can cause a significant increase in cellular oxidative stress, even in healthy nonsmokers. This harmful process directly contributes to nutrient depletion, prompting the essential question: what vitamins does vaping deplete and what are the wider health consequences?

Quick Summary

Vaping depletes vital vitamins, particularly C, D, and B-complex, through increased oxidative stress and compromised nutrient absorption. The nicotine and other chemicals in vape aerosol trigger inflammatory responses, exhausting antioxidant stores and damaging gut health, which hinders the body's ability to process essential nutrients from food.

Key Points

Antioxidant Exhaustion: Vaping generates significant oxidative stress, rapidly depleting the body's reserve of antioxidants, including Vitamin C and Glutathione.
Impaired Absorption: Chemicals in e-cigarette aerosol can damage the gut and restrict blood flow, hindering the absorption of essential nutrients like Vitamin D, Calcium, and Iron.
B-Vitamin Alteration: Vaping can specifically inhibit the uptake of Vitamin B1 (thiamin) and chemically convert active forms of Vitamin B12 into inactive, excretable versions.
EVALI and Additives: Beyond nutrient depletion, additives like Vitamin E acetate in certain vape products have been linked to severe lung injury (EVALI).
Systemic Inflammation: The chronic oxidative stress from vaping can lead to systemic inflammation, further compromising cellular function and exhausting the body's resources.
Ineffective Vitamin Inhalation: Vaping so-called 'vitamin pens' is ineffective and potentially harmful, as the body is not equipped to absorb nutrients through the lungs.

The Primary Culprits: Oxidative Stress and Nicotine

Vaping and its aerosol contain various compounds that disrupt the body's delicate nutritional balance. The two main mechanisms behind this depletion are increased oxidative stress and the direct physiological effects of nicotine.

Increased Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Depletion

Oxidative stress is an imbalance where the body produces too many reactive oxygen species (ROS)—or free radicals—and does not have enough antioxidants to neutralize them. This process can be triggered by exposure to foreign compounds, like the metals and aldehydes found in e-cigarette aerosol. When this happens, the body consumes its antioxidant stores at a higher rate to combat the cellular damage. Long-term, this can lead to chronic inflammation, weakened immune function, and depletion of vital antioxidant vitamins.

The Direct Effect of Nicotine on Nutrient Levels

Nicotine, a primary component in many vape liquids, also plays a key role in nutrient depletion. High concentrations of nicotine can:

Suppress appetite and dull taste buds, leading to a reduced intake of nutrient-dense foods.
Directly interfere with the metabolism and absorption of specific vitamins. For example, nicotine can decrease Vitamin C levels in the bloodstream.
Inhibit the uptake of certain B-vitamins in some cells.

Specific Vitamins Depleted by Vaping

Vaping is not a benign activity when it comes to nutritional health. Several essential vitamins are negatively impacted by chronic exposure.

Vitamin C: The Scavenger Exhausted

As a potent antioxidant, Vitamin C is one of the first lines of defense against oxidative damage. Vaping dramatically increases the need for antioxidants, and the body's store of Vitamin C is rapidly depleted to combat the influx of free radicals.

Key roles of Vitamin C:

Protects against cellular and organ damage.
Essential for cellular repair and immune function.
Crucial for the production of collagen, a protein vital for skin, cartilage, and bones.

Vitamin D: Compromised Absorption and Bone Health

Vaping can harm the gut environment, a primary site for nutrient absorption. Chemicals from vape aerosol can reduce blood flow and oxygen to the gut, making it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients, including Vitamin D.

This leads to several potential health issues, including:

Increased risk of osteoporosis due to poor calcium absorption.
Weakened bones and impaired immune response, as Vitamin D is critical for bone health and immunity.

B-Complex Vitamins: Disrupting Cellular Metabolism

Beyond the well-known depletion of Vitamin C, vaping also impacts the B-vitamin complex, which is vital for energy metabolism and neurological function. Studies have shown that:

General B-vitamin levels can be lowered in users.
Nicotine exposure can specifically inhibit the uptake of Vitamin B1 (thiamin) in key cells.
The chemical components in vapor can convert active forms of Vitamin B12 (like methylcobalamin) into an inactive form that is excreted by the body.

How Vaping Impairs Nutrient Absorption

The negative impact of vaping goes beyond simply using up vitamins; it also hinders the body's ability to acquire nutrients from food in the first place. This occurs through several key mechanisms.

Impact on Gut Health and Blood Flow

Vaping chemicals can reduce blood flow and oxygen to the gut, the site where the majority of nutrient absorption occurs.
The presence of harmful chemicals and toxins can trigger gastrointestinal distress, inflammation, or damage to the intestinal lining, which further compromises absorption.
Appetite suppression caused by nicotine may lead to irregular or reduced mealtimes, contributing to a lower overall nutritional intake.

The Problem with Inhaled 'Nutrients'

Some products are marketed to contain inhaled vitamins, but experts are clear that this is an ineffective and potentially dangerous approach. The body is designed to absorb vitamins through the small intestine, not the lungs. Inhaling processed nutrients can expose the lungs to foreign chemicals and cause unforeseen risks.

Comparing the Effects of Vaping vs. Smoking on Vitamin Depletion

While both smoking and vaping cause significant nutrient depletion, there are some differences in the specific mechanisms and compounds involved.


Feature	Vaping	Smoking
Overall Nutrient Depletion	High, driven by oxidative stress from aerosol chemicals and nicotine.	High, caused by combustion byproducts, heavy metals, and nicotine.
Vitamin C Depletion	Significant, due to high oxidative stress and the effects of nicotine.	Significant, with nicotine accelerating depletion.
Vitamin D Absorption	Impaired primarily by restricted blood and oxygen flow to the gut from aerosol chemicals.	Impaired by circulation issues and systemic effects.
B-Complex Impact	Linked to inhibition of uptake (B1) and conversion of active forms (B12).	Associated with a general reduction in B-complex vitamins.
Unique Risks	Specific additives like Vitamin E acetate have caused severe lung injury (EVALI).	High levels of carbon monoxide, tar, and thousands of other harmful chemicals.

Conclusion: The Nutritional Cost of Vaping

The evidence is clear: vaping, much like traditional smoking, comes with a considerable nutritional cost. By generating oxidative stress, impairing gut function, and directly interfering with nutrient metabolism, e-cigarettes deplete the body's stores of vital vitamins like C, D, and B-complex. The best way to reverse this depletion and restore nutritional health is to quit vaping altogether. For those struggling to quit, maintaining a balanced, nutrient-rich diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables can help to replenish lost nutrients. However, this does not address the root cause of the damage. For effective and safe cessation strategies, it is best to consult evidence-based resources and healthcare professionals. You can find more information on quitting smoking and vaping at resources like the CDC website.

How to Begin Restoring Your Health

Prioritize Quitting: Stopping vaping is the most effective way to halt the cycle of oxidative stress and nutrient depletion. Resources like the CDC and NRT options are available to help.
Increase Nutrient-Rich Food Intake: Incorporate more whole foods, particularly fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, to boost your vitamin and mineral intake.
Consider Supplements (with caution): A multivitamin can help address general deficiencies, but consult a healthcare professional before starting any new regimen.
Support Gut Health: Since absorption can be impacted, focus on gut-healthy foods rich in fiber and probiotics to aid recovery.
Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration supports overall cellular function and detoxification processes.

Ultimately, a combination of quitting, adopting a healthy diet, and supporting your body's recovery can help reverse the nutritional damage caused by vaping. The long-term health benefits of protecting your vitamin stores far outweigh any perceived short-term benefits of vaping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, vaping can lead to deficiencies in several vitamins and minerals. The aerosol and nicotine in e-cigarettes cause oxidative stress, impair nutrient absorption in the gut, and interfere with the metabolism of specific vitamins, leading to depletion over time.

Yes, vaping significantly depletes the body's Vitamin C. As a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C is consumed at an accelerated rate to combat the increased oxidative stress and free radicals introduced by the chemicals in the vapor.

Vaping can impair the absorption of Vitamin D by reducing blood flow and oxygen to the gut. Since the small intestine is where most vitamin absorption happens, this can lead to insufficient Vitamin D levels and potentially impact bone health.

Yes, some components of e-cigarette aerosol can chemically alter active forms of Vitamin B12, making them inactive and causing them to be excreted from the body. This can lead to a significant decline in B12 levels in users.

No, it is neither safe nor effective to vape vitamins. The human body is designed to absorb nutrients through the digestive system. Inhaling vitamins can expose the lungs to foreign and potentially harmful chemicals, and the vitamins themselves are not properly absorbed.

Vaping introduces toxic substances that increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), or free radicals. To neutralize these damaging molecules, the body uses its natural antioxidant stores, which include vitamins like C and E. Over time, this constant fight exhausts these vitamin reserves.

The most effective way to reverse nutrient depletion is to quit vaping entirely. In the meantime, adopting a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can help replenish some of the lost vitamins and minerals, though it does not eliminate the underlying cause.