Supplementing with vitamin C may help prevent the severe depletion of vitamin E in smokers and could assist them in cancer prevention, according to American scientists.
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| Supplementing with vitamin C may help prevent the severe depletion of vitamin E in smokers (Image: umanitoba) |
Research led by scientists at Oregon State University has demonstrated for the first time the interaction between these two antioxidants in humans, shedding light on a theory regarding the causes of cancer in smokers.
Researchers found that smokers who took 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C daily could reduce the rate of loss of a form of vitamin E by 45%. The supplementation of vitamin C also helps protect the function and plasma levels of vitamin E.
Vitamin E is one of the primary “barriers” that protect the lungs against cigarette smoke, which generates harmful free radicals that destroy lung tissue. Ensuring adequate levels of vitamin E in the body can help prevent damage to the lung membranes. However, during this protective process, vitamin E itself can become a free radical. Supplementing with an appropriate amount of vitamin C helps convert vitamin E back to a non-free radical form, allowing it to continue protecting the lungs.
Recent studies published in the journal of the National Cancer Institute also found that vitamin E supplementation helps reduce the risk of prostate cancer in male smokers but has no effect on non-smokers.
TUONG VY (According to Xinhua)
