- VG is a carbohydrate that is usually derived from plant oils, so you have a choice to buy a natural substance as PG is synthetic.
- Typically, VG produces more vapor than PG.
- VG based E-liquids usually contain 80-92% VG (more than PG).
- VG is slightly more viscous, nicer and thicker vapour causing a thicker smoke. With a PG base, you get a thin vapor that doesn’t remain in the air as long, so it can dissipate quickly in your throat, offering you only a slight hit. The thicker liquid makes for thicker plumes of smoke, which many people find more pleasant.
- VG has a has reduced throat hit, you can breathe easier and not suffer an irritated throat. Very few people ever have an allergic reaction to VG, so if you are sensitive to such interactions, it is a good idea to opt for a VG base entirely.
- VG already has a slightly sweeter taste to it than PG. VG makes
fruit liquids taste sweeter, dessert juices taste a bit more
delectable and it is often full of flavor that lingers.
- The entire reason VG is added to a PG base by others is for its thicker, milkier vapor. Without it, the liquid tastes too flat and thin. So with a full VG base, you get a much more satisfying hit and a thicker vapor. It isn’t diluted or held back by other ingredients.
- Another reason that VG is often mixed into PG is because of the frequency with which PG causes allergic reactions. When it is diluted with VG, it is not as likely to cause those problems.
- VG is hype-allergenic, non-carcinigeic, non teratogenic.
- VG does not cause mutation of cells and/or chromosomal/DNA information, therefore it is non-mutagenic.
- VG is metabolized quite easily by the beta-oxidation process which mostly produces CO2 (which we exhale) and H2O (water) and is an extremely efficient, normal, simple, common, and a natural catabolic process. A very small amount is transformed into essential sugars that are also regularly used by the body.
- VG is of low toxicity when ingested, inhaled, or in contact with skin
- The NOACE for local irritant effects to the upper respiratory tract is 165 mg/m3.
- VG is of a low order of acute oral and dermal toxicity with LD50 values in excess of 4000 mg/kw bw.
- VG has low potential to irritate the skin, the eyes and upper respiratory system, also, VG is not a skin irritant.
- VG does not induce gene mutations in bacterial strains, chromosomal effects in mammalian cells or primary DNA damage in vitro.
- Overall, VG is not considered to possess genotoxic potential.
- VG has no effects on fertility and reproductive performance.
- The risk of being allergic to VG is very low. The only population which may experience problems with its metabolism would be diabetics owing to the anabolic hepatic pathway which can convert free VG to glucose(but this would still not be an issue considering the level of VG used in vaping).
- PG can cause an allergic reaction; It won’t happen to everyone, but it you have a reaction in your throat from using it, you should stop and switch over to VG right away.
- Mostly no further research is done on VG , because of its low hazard potential.
- VG is approved by Health Canada for use in various forms in Canada. VG was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for as a low human health priority.”
- VG is classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).
- VG complies with specifications for the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), and European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur. or EP) E244.
- PG tends to be very think and runny, which can make it easy to have a mess on your hands. It will also drip faster into the electronic cigarettes wick and atomizer, making you burn through your liquid a little faster than you might otherwise.
- There have been enough studies done on VG to determine one undeniable fact; VG is one of the most harmless organic liquids that ever comes in contact with a human body on a regular basis. In fact, it’s already used in so many ingestible products they all can’t possibly be listed here.
- A 13-week study in which rats were exposed to VG inhalation six hours daily and were found to be minimally to mildly harmed in the process. Essentially, some of the rats experienced a little weight gain due to their bodies’ metabolising of VG into sugars. This small risk is even smaller in human beings due to the mere size difference.
- Several of the largest pharmaceutical regulating organizations, as well as the pharmaceutical corporations themselves, have labeled VG as harmless. Also, there seems to have been no reported cases of bad manufacturing and/or shipping practices relating to companies that produce glycerol in bulk for distribution.
- In a PG base, Manufacturers add some sorbitol or other artificial sweetener to make the juice more palatable. But these can contain manmade chemicals that, while approved by the FDA for human consumption, are not completely understood. There may be side effects to them that have yet to be discovered because we simply do not fully understand all the ways in which they interact with our bodies.
- There is no health risk associated with inhaling atomized, aerosolized, vaporized VG.
Notes -
- Most e-liquid companies use some sort of mix between VG and PG.
- Make sure the Vegetable glycerin used to make our the E-liquid is 100% pharmaceutical grade.
- Vegetable glycerin comes in USP grade and food grade, buy only USP grade (99.7% pure).
- There is a distinctive taste to VG that, while slight, will affect the flavoring you add a little bit.
- VG isn't a more pleasing throat hit, and the thickness of the liquid detracts from the sensations most vapers are looking for.
- VG's increased thickness makes it a culprit in reducing the life of atomizers, The thickness of it means that it is prone to stick to the sides of the tank and the coil, making it a bit of a pain to clean up. You can use alcohol-dipped swabs to get it off most of the time though.
- The thinner liquid of PG makes the e-cig easier to clean, It won’t gunk up the coil or the inside of the tank as much as the VG, so PG does make cleaning a little faster and easier on you.
- PG is a humectant, which means it keeps things moist. That’s a good thing when it comes to the kind of hit it can deliver. It offers a strong, pleasing hit to the back of your throat, much like tobacco does. The PG on its own offers no taste, so it won’t interfere with the flavors of your liquid.
- There is very, very little “evidence” suggesting anything other than “VG is harmless to your body.” Sure, there have been plenty of articles written about it, but if one were to actually read these articles, they would find that they are nothing but typical media fear-mongering.
- VG seems to be easier on most people, with very limited instances of allergic reactions being reported. But some people have complained about a phlegm buildup after using the vegetable base.
- Those who have allergies of any kind, who cannot eat certain foods, who suffer from asthma and other breathing difficulties should all avoid PG bases when possible.
- The most common noted side effect of inhalation of e-liquid containing VG is a dry mouth, sore throat, and increased thirst. These symptoms usually last just a few days to a week as the body gets used to the VG. These symptoms can be lessened by drinking more water and liquids then usual for the first few weeks of using your e-cigarette.
- If you are moving from smoking traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes, you will find there are many side effects of quitting smoking tobacco products. It is very easy for a new user of an e-cigarette to incorrectly attribute these quitting smoking side effects to the e-cigarette, when in fact they are likely the result of your bodies reaction to quitting smoking tobacco cigarettes.
Which One Is Better?
The choice of which one of these to use is really up to personal preference. Most people tend to go for the PG, which may be why manufacturers have opted to include it as the standard in most e-liquid selections. Because VG distorts the flavor, PG offers a truer experience. The only real advantages VG has over its counterpart is its thicker plumes and no allergies. Many vapers love the sensation the thick plumes of smoke provide, and they may miss not getting that experience from PG.
Bottomline -
If you want a healthy vapor, there is no better option than a VG base \m/.
References -
https://canadavapes.com/health/vegetable-glycerin-safety.html
http://www.jetoc.or.jp/HP_SIDS/pdffiles/56-81-5.pdf
https://quitsmokingcommunity.org/e-liquid/benefits-of-100-vg-vegetable-glycerin-e-liquid
https://quitsmokingcommunity.org/e-liquid/propylene-glycol-vs-vegetable-glycerin-in-e-liquid/
http://ejuiceconnoisseur.com/2013/08/15/the-truth-about-vegetable-glycerine/
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08958379209145307#.VtDzZtDU7IU
http://www.inchem.org/documents/sids/sids/56815.pdf
Disclaimer -
This website is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on a website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.