This large study—more than 500,000 patients in 10 countries—found that patients whose tests showed the highest levels of B6 had a 56% reduced level of lung cancer when compared to patients who had the lowest levels.

The other finding showed that a specific amino acid, methionine, also appeared to reduce a person’s relative risk of lung cancer by 48%.

As association means just what it says. It happened at the same time. This study is not showing that deficiencies of B6 and methionine cause lung cancer.

What Can You Do?

B6

• If you are an alcoholic, according to the NIH information provided below, you may have a deficiency of B6. Discuss this to see if you need to add this vitamin.<
• Older adults may have less variety in their diets and, as a result, be at higher risk for B6 deficiency. The same holds. Discuss your diet with your doctor to see if supplements are the best way to get your levels where they should be.

Here is NIH information about B6 from the Office of Dietary Supplements.

“When can a vitamin B₆ deficiency occur?

“Clinical signs of vitamin B₆ deficiency are rarely seen in the United States. Many older Americans, however, have low blood levels of vitamin B₆, which may suggest a marginal or sub-optimal vitamin B₆ nutritional status. Vitamin B₆ deficiency can occur in individuals with poor quality diets that are deficient in many nutrients. Symptoms occur during later stages of deficiency, when intake has been very low for an extended time. Signs of vitamin B₆ deficiency include dermatitis (skin inflammation), glossitis (a sore tongue), depression, confusion, and convulsions Some of these symptoms can also result from a variety of medical conditions other than vitamin B₆ deficiency. It is important to have a physician evaluate these symptoms so that appropriate medical care can be given. (Emphasis added)

“Who may need extra vitamin B₆ to prevent a deficiency?

“Individuals with a poor quality diet or an inadequate B₆ intake for an extended period may benefit from taking a vitamin B₆ supplement if they are unable to increase their dietary intake of vitamin B₆ [1,15]. Alcoholics and older adults are more likely to have inadequate vitamin B₆ intakes than other segments of the population because they may have limited variety in their diet. Alcohol also promotes the destruction and loss of vitamin B₆ from the body. (Emphasis added)

Amino Acid, Methionine

Here is wikipedia information about the dietary sources of the amino acid, methionine.

“High levels of methionine can be found in sesame seeds, Brazil nuts, fish, meats and some other plant seeds; methionine is also found in cereal grains. Most fruits and vegetables contain very little of it. Most legumes are also low in methionine. The complement of cereal (methionine) and legumes (lysine), providing a complete protein, is a classic combination, found throughout the world, such as in rice and beans, and similar combinations discussed there.

“Sesame seeds, such as in hummus, provide methionine in Arab cuisine.

“The use of sesame seeds in cuisine, such as Indian cuisine and, especially in the form of tahini, in Arab cuisine, helps provide essential protein in vegetarian and vegan diets. For example, in hummus, sesame seeds are combined with chickpeas.”

Medpage Today

“Vitamin B6 and the amino acid methionine appear to be associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer, a large prospective cohort study found.

“The cohort study, which included more than 500,000 patients from 10 countries, found those patients with the highest serum levels of vitamin B6 had a 56% reduced risk of lung cancer compared with those with the lowest levels, Paul Brennan, PhD, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, and colleagues reported in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Higher methionine levels were also associated with a reduced relative risk of 48%.

“Deficiencies in B vitamins are thought to increase the likelihood of DNA damage and subsequent gene mutations, the researchers said, which means they may have a potentially important role in inhibiting cancer development.”

Source: Medpage Today, June 16, 2010

Citation: Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA 2010; 303(23): 2377-85.

Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: B6

Source: wikipedia, Information on Dietary Sources of Amino Acid, Methionine