New research finds antioxidants and other vitamins will not help in the fight to protect smokers against lung cancer. In an analysis of eight previous studies, researchers found no evidence that vitamins A, C, E or folate lower a person's risk of lung cancer. The research followed thousands of adults for up to 16 years.

People with the highest intakes of vitamins were no less likely to develop lung cancer than those who had little intake.

Vitamins C and E are antioxidants, which means they help neutralize cell-damaging substances in the body called free radicals. Vitamin A and folate, a B vitamin, also help maintain normal, healthy cells.

There is more on this research in the International Journal of Cancer.