The vitamin being blamed for vaping illnesses

CDC: Vitamin E to blame for "vast majority" of vaping illness cases

Federal health officials singling out a primary culprit for the wave of lung illnesses linked to vaping.

It's an additive called vitamin E acetate and it's often found in unregulated THC products.

For months, dating back to the first reported cases this summer, CDC health officials have been reluctant to assign blame to any particular cause.

But the ongoing testing of patients' lung fluid samples has apparently convinced them.

According to findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine, nearly 95% of the 51 patients tested so far have had vitamin E acetate in their lungs.

It's an oily form of the vitamin used as a thickening agent in many products, including skin creams.

A similar percentage also tested positive or reported using cannabis or THC vaping products.

No other likely toxic chemicals were found in these patients.

Despite zeroing in on vitamin E, though, health officials aren't ruling out that there could be other causes.

They continue to advise people to avoid using any vaping and e-cigarette products.