Nutrients may be why some smokers avoid cancer

[Elmore Furth]

About 10 to 15 percent of smokers develop lung cancer and low levels of vitamin B6 and an amino acid called methionine seem to be a factor. Ironically, they are a factor even in the lung cancer of those who don't smoke. Vitamin B6 is important in DNA repair and there is even an increase in colorectal cancer in people with low vitamin B6 levels.

Reuters) - Smokers who have higher levels of vitamin B6 and certain essential proteins in their blood have a lower risk of getting lung cancer than those deficient in these nutrients, according to study by cancer specialists.

Scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said that although they had not found a causal link, the results may be a clue to why some smokers never get lung cancer and some non-smokers or former smokers do.

Brennan said the change in risk of lung cancer linked to B6 and methionine levels was the same for all three groups, although of course the overall risk of getting the disease was much higher in the smokers to start with.

"For the two nutrients together, the risk reduction was about 60 percent," he said. "Obviously if you had a very high risk because you smoke, then a 60 percent reduction of that is quite important, although not as important as quitting smoking."


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65E5JW20100615">Nutrients may be why some smokers avoid cancer