Can Vitamins Actually Battle the Effects of Smoking?

Skooter reporting 10/03/12

Nowadays, there's not a load of positive push about smoking cigarettes, actually, there's none at all. We know that majority of smokers are aware of the risks of ingesting the chemicals found in cigarette smoke. But Dr. Victor Marchione have told me about a recent study; many think that if they take a multivitamin pill they can smoke more because the supplement protects them from the harmful effects of cigarettes. It’s not so, say researchers from Southern Taiwan University.

There were two experiments involved in the study conducted by the researchers. In the first experiment, a group of 74 daily smokers were issued a placebo pill, and half were told covertly they were taking a vitamin C pill. After taking the pills, the smokers were allowed to smoke as they wish and at the same time, they took an hour-long survey not linked to the study.

The researchers discovered an interesting effect: smokers who believed they had taken vitamins smoked nearly twice as many cigarettes compared those who knew that they took the placebo. They also reported having greater feelings of invincibility.

Now, in the second experiment, there were 80 smokers were also issued a placebo, with half being told they were taking a multivitamin. Subsequently, they were allowed to smoke while they took a survey of which they were asked about their attitudes towards multivitamins.

Once more, the researchers found the same results. Smokers who took multivitamins smoked more. Moreover, those who reported believing in the health benefits of vitamins had a greater surge in their feelings of indestructibility and smoked still more than those who were less positive about the vitamins' effects.

The researchers come to the conclusion that health-conscious smokers who take vitamins may erroneously feel less susceptible to the harmful effects of cigarettes. As a result, the researchers further said, they may smoke more and increase their overall health risks.

This is certainly to think about. Dr. Marchione has this health advice: don't light up more often because you think vitamins will reduce your risk of cancer. Doing something "good" for your body doesn't necessarily cancel out doing something harmful. Get your doctor's advice about smoking cessation programs and continue to boost your nutritional health by eating fresh, healthy foods every day.

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