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Vitamins for Women Smokers

The dangers of smoking are mostly associated with an increased risk for cancer. However, smokers and, in particular, women smokers also encounter other risks posed from the habit. Smoking cigarettes can decrease the body's ability to absorb certain vitamins, and some of these are especially vital to the health of women. These vitamins that women smokers should take are outlined below.

  1. Vitamins C and E

    • As you may be aware, antioxidants protect the body from releasing free radicals, which can lead to cancer. Women who smoke should make sure that they take additional supplements to help protect their body against cancer. Antioxidants come from many common foods, but women smokers should also take vitamin C and vitamin E supplements.

    Additional Antioxidants

    • In addition to the common antioxidants, vitamins C and E, women who smoke may also want to consider taking a supplement that contains additional antioxidants such as CoQ10 and lycopene.
      CoQ10 is found in most tissues of the body and is key for cell growth and maintenance. Lycopene is commonly found in tomatoes and helps to neutralize free radicals, which are a precursor to disease.

    B Vitamins

    • Smoking can cause a deficiency of the B vitamins in the lungs of smokers. The ingredients in cigarettes can break down vitamin B12 and folic acid in particular, and smokers should take extra caution to take extra vitamin B supplements, which can potentially reduce the number of precancerous cells in smokers' lungs.

    One-a-Day Supplements

    • Many supplements on the market contain all of the vitamins that relatively healthy people require each day. However, these may not always be a good option for smokers since cigarettes affect the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, and because of this, they may need to take extra supplements, especially for the specific vitamins outlined here. It is best to discuss your specific needs with a doctor instead of taking an all-in-one pill that may not meet your needs.

    Warnings

    • Some studies have shown that certain vitamins can actually be harmful to smokers, so women should be careful to discuss any new nutritional supplements with their doctors. And they should also be aware that vitamins alone will not completely alleviate the health risks caused by smoking.

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