Do you smoke? If so, you may be among those trying to offset the negative effect by taking vitamins. Many smokers, and ex-smokers, take various vitamins to ward off the impact of the dreaded cigarette. But, sadly, it may be too little too late.

Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle found that vitamins offer no protection against lung cancer. They studied by 75,000 folks, ages 50 to 76, to assess the impact of vitamins and supplements on lung cancer. They specifically looked at multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folate. Though they may offer other health benefits, these vitamins did not reduce the risk of lung cancer.

The news was even less encouraging for one of the vitamins. The study found that taking high doses vitamin E actually

increased the risk of developing lung cancer. This was particularly true for smokers.

The study additionally found that the majority of those who developed lung cancer were either smokers or ex-smokers. Hmm… No surprise there. The researchers note that eating foods rich in these vitamins have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer.

What’s the bottom line? Well, step one is to stop smoking. Use the patch, chew some gum, lock yourself in a padded room - just get it done. Then pick up some food. Real food, like a piece of fruit or some veggies. Your body will thank you.

To read more about the study, see that from Reuters. To learn more about eating whole, healthy foods, see that from The World’s Healthiest Foods.