Good news for smokers: Lung cancer risk could be halved by taking B vitamin

Smokers with plenty of a B-vitamin in their blood have a lower risk of getting lung cancer, a European study suggests. High levels of Vitamin B6 and the amino acid methionine cut the risk by half, according to the study of 400,000 people.

Scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said that the results may be a clue to why some smokers never get lung cancer and some non-smokers or former smokers do.

The study author said the vitamin B6 reduced the risk of lung cancer by 60% in smokers, although quitting the habit has an even greater benefit

Lung cancer is the most common form of the disease in the world and 90 per cent of all cases are caused by cigarette smoking. It kills 1.2 million people a year.

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