Lung cancer damages the cells of the lungs and may produce symptoms such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, chest pain and wheezing. Certain factors, including smoking, secondhand smoke, chemicals and family history may increase the risk for developing lung cancer. Besides controlling these risk factors, evidence indicates that taking certain supplements might effectively protect against lung cancer. Consult your health care provider before taking any supplements.
Resveratrol and Tannin Extracts
Certain compounds found in red wine may protect against lung cancer, according to a study led by researcher Dr. Alberto Ruano-Ravina and colleagues from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. They discovered that subjects drinking red wine lowered their risk of developing lung cancer compared to subjects drinking white wine or not drinking at all. Scientists stated that red wine contains tannins and resveratrol, both of which have shown positive effects on lung cancer prevention. Although these findings are promising, further research is needed, according to research reported in the November 2004 issue of the journal "Thorax."
Vitamin E
Increasing your intake of vitamin E in the alpha-tocopherol form might reduce lung cancer risk. Lead author Somdat Mahabir and colleagues from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center investigated the relationship between vitamin E consumption and lung cancer risk. The report, which was published in the October 2008 issue of the "International Journal of Cancer," revealed that participants with the highest averages of alpha-tocopherol decreased their risk of lung cancer compared to participants with the lowest alpha-tocopherol intakes.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants called polyphenols, which might reduce lung cancer risk, especially in smokers. I-Hsin Lin and researchers from Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan examined the relationship between green tea consumption and lung cancer risk. They found that both smokers and non-smokers not drinking green tea increased their risk of lung cancer compared to those who drank at least one cup of green tea.
