Vitamin C to protect smokers' lungs
Kounteya Sinha, TNN, Sep 11, 2005, 01.10am ISTNEW DELHI:
Consumption of 500 mg of Vitamin C a day, in the form of tablets, leafy vegetables or citrus fruits can protect chain smokers from lung damage.
This has been discovered by scientists at Calcutta University's Dr B C Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
The scientists of this Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-funded institution have for the first time isolated the actual compound that is most dangerous in cigarette smoke — Para Benzo Semi Quinone — that causes massive oxidative damage to lung tissues.
Then, after months of tests, the scientists have also discovered how Vitamin C acts as a very good antioxidant, saving the lungs. The American Patent Office has recognised this discovery and granted the centre exclusive patent rights (US Patent number 6,929,012).
The scientists have also found that per smoke, a man inhales 200 gms of PBSQ, which according to them is a very high amount.
Speaking to TOI, project head Dr I B Chatterjee said: "Cigarette smoke has over 4,000 different compounds, 3,000 of which are present in the gas phase and about 1,000 components in the tar phase.
But nobody knew which of these are most harmful for our body. That's what...
... made us carry out tests on a guinea pig model. We made water extracts of the compounds and found that PBSQ causes most of the damage, including protein and gene destruction.
We also believe it oxydises DNA, leading to cell death. Now with this discovery, we can actually isolate the compounds in the cigarette smoke taking away the harmful effects."
Dr Chatterjee, who has been working on Vitamin C and its effects for the past 45 years, found that consuming 500 mg of the Vitamin C saves lung damage.
Another researcher added: "We found that excessive inhaling of PBSQ reduces the level of Vitamin C in the smoker's blood and tissues. So consumption of green vegetables, citrus fruits or Vitamin C tablets takes care of that.
And because Vitamin C gets readily excreted through urine, it has to be consumed thrice a day, at a total of 500 gms.
What's worse is that with cigarette, smokers always have coffee or alcohol, both of which then causes serious illnesses like bronchitis, emphysema, respiratory tract disorders, coronary heart diseases and lung cancer."
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-09-11/scien
ce/27850532_1_cigarette-smoke-lungs-scientists
