Too few people get enough vitamin B6 and smokers are even more likely to have low levels of the vitamin, which is believed to offer protection against the DNA damage that can lead to cancers.

Washington State University researchers presented those findings April 14 at the Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego.

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Higher numbers of DNA strand breaks
The study included six smokers and six non-smokers. During the first 28 days, they were given carefully controlled diets that contained only marginal amounts of vitamin B6. At the end of that time, all the study participants had lower levels of vitamin B6 and higher numbers of DNA strand breaks.

During the second month, all the study participants ate a carefully controlled diet that included 1,4 milligrams of vitamin B6. Some of that came from food and some from supplements. In the third month, the vitamin B6 intake was increased to 2,2 milligrams a day.

For the final month, the study participants were allowed to eat whatever they wanted. However, they had to take 10,3 milligrams of vitamin B6 supplement each day. That's more than seven times the recommended daily allowance.

Even one month of vit B6 can make a difference
The study found that as the amount of vitamin B6 in the diet and bodies increased, the number of DNA strand breaks decreased. That pattern was seen as early as the first month of vitamin B6 supplementation.

While the smokers' levels of vitamin B6 did increase, they never matched the vitamin B6 levels in the non-smokers.

Foods high in vitamin B6 include cereals, beef, chicken, fish, legumes, soy products and bananas. – (HealthScout News)

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