LungBlog

NIH scientists have recently reported on vitamin overdoses. While their general findings are interesting, one stands out: apparently smokers increase their risk of lung cancer by taking beta carotene supplements. It turns out that beta carotene’s antioxidant effects are “used up” rather quickly in smokers’ lungs and the beta carotene suddenly turns “pro-oxident,” essentially creating free radicals and markedly increasing mortality rates. The clinical study that determined this noticed the problem to such an alarming degree that they actually stopped the study. More information can be found over at Berkeley Wellness.