Despite recent adverse publicity, beta-carotene does provide an effective safeguard against lung cancer, new research has found.
People with high levels of beta-carotene had the lowest lung cancer rates, even though they were in a high risk group, either as a smoker or as an asbestos worker.
But smokers were warned that they first have to quit if the supplementation is to have any effect. In fact, beta-carotene can have harmful effects on people still smoking, and also among heavy drinkers (J Natl Cancer Inst, 1996; 8: 1560-70).
For more on cancer, see the WDDTY Guide to Cancer, WDDTY vol 7, nos 3 and 4, and vol 4, no 7.