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Vitamins and lung cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Jarmo Virtamo
Jarmo Virtamo*
Affiliation:
National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland
*
Corresponding author: Dr Jarmo Virtamo, fax +358 9 4744 8591, email jarmo.virtamo@ktl.fi
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Abstract

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Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world, and smoking is the major risk factor, accounting for about 90% of the cases. Diet has also been implicated in the development of lung cancer, although the specific nutrients remain to be elucidated. Vitamins with antioxidant activity have received much attention. β-Carotene, the most efficient provitamin A, was found to be inversely related to the risk of lung cancer in many prospective epidemiological studies, especially in studies measuring serum concentrations of β-carotene. The findings from controlled trials, however, contradict the hypothesis that β-carotene could prevent lung cancer, but rather suggest increased risk of lung cancer with supplementary β-carotene. Data from both prospective studies and a controlled trial suggest no role for vitamin E in lung carcinogenesis. Some prospective epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between dietary vitamin C and the risk of lung cancer, but due to the high correlation between dietary vitamin C and vegetable and fruit intake the independent role of dietary vitamin C is difficult to estimate. Studies using prediagnostic plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid do not support the involvement of vitamin C in lung carcinogenesis, and no controlled trials of vitamin C on lung cancer have been published. Thus, supplementation with antioxidant vitamins cannot be recommended for the prevention of lung cancer. Non-smoking is the most important target in the prevention of lung cancer. High i ntakes of vegetables and fruits may provide additional protection and are unlikely to be harmful.

Keywords

Lung cancerAntioxidantsβ-CaroteneVitamin EVitamin C
Type
Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Group Symposium on ‘Nutrition and lung health’
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , May 1999 , pp. 329 - 333
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1999

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