Higher blood levels of vitamin B6 and a common amino acid, methionine, are associated with a reduction of at least 50% in the risk of developing lung cancer, concludes a study of nearly 400,000 participants. The findings, published in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, show that higher levels of B vitamins are associated with lower lung cancer risk, even in current or former smokers, as well as those who've never smoked.
Participants with the highest blood level of vitamin B6 were 56% less likely to develop lung cancer when compared to those with the lowest level. Similarly, those with the highest level of methionine had a 48% lower risk. The researchers further found an additional association for serum levels of folate, or folic acid, which was associated with a two-thirds lower risk of lung cancer when combined with B6 and methionine.
