Smoking is by far the most important risk factor for lung cancer. When people stop smoking their risk decreases but it remains high compared to people who have not smoked; finding ways to reduce this remaining risk is important. A study led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published today in JAMA1 shows a reduction in lung cancer risk among people with higher levels of vitamin B6 and methionine. The observed decrease is large with risk being more than halved in those with high levels of both and if proven to be causal would suggest ways in which diet could be used to change lung cancer risk. This analysis was funded by the World Cancer Research Fund.
