Smoking affects nutrients intake

Food and nutrient intake differences between smokers and non-smokers:

Smokers have lower intakes of vitamin C, folate, fiber, and vitamin A than non-smokers, and intake tended to decrease as cigarette consumption increased.

 

Smokers were less likely to have consumed vegetables, fruits (fruits and vegetables high in vitamins C and A), high fiber grains, low fat milk, and vitamin and mineral supplements than non-smokers.

These data suggest that the high cancer risk associated with smoking is compounded by somewhat lower intake of nutrients and foods which are thought to be cancer protective.

 

Smokers were more likely to have an imbalance between the dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients and the metabolic demand for antioxidant protection. This imbalance is likely to make smokers more susceptible to oxidative damage.

 

Smokers are at increased risk of chronic diseases because their diets are different and because smoking creates an altered pattern of demand for specific nutrients.

 

The effect of smoking on vitamin intake:

1- The relation between smoking and vitamin C status:

 

People who smoke have very low vitamin C dietary intake, this will increase the risk of severe hypovitaminosis C (serum levels less than or equal to 0.2 mg/dl), particularly when not accompanied by vitamin supplementation.

 

2- The relation between smoking and vitamin E status

 

Vitamin E disappears more quickly in smokers than in non-smokers, so that smokers have low vitamin E intake and inadequate levels of vitamin C can cause further and faster depletion of vitamin E.

3- The relation between smoking and vitamin B status:

 

Smoking seriously harm the B vitamin status, for example, it breaks down vitamin B12; other smoky pollutants can inactivate folic acid, another B vitamin. Smoking might generate localized areas of B-vitamin deficiency in the lungs.

 

What you have to do?

Up your intake of Vitamin. Vitamins is a powerful anti-oxidant, which can assist the body in its fight against various cancers, to which smokers are more susceptible than non-smokers.