Male smokers who had a high dietary intake of vitamin C and took vitamin E supplements increased their tuberculosis risk by 72 per cent, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

However, vitamin E had no effect on those who had low dietary vitamin C intake, Sciencedaily.com reported.

Previous studies have suggested that vitamin E might strengthen the immune system. In animal studies, vitamin E seemed to protect against various infections.

This study was conducted in Finland between 1985 and 1993 and included male smokers aged between 50 and 69. There were 174 cases of tuberculosis in 29,023 participants during the six-year supplementation of 50mg per day of vitamin E.

The researchers concluded that 'the consumption of vitamin E supplements by the general population should be discouraged because there is evidence of harm for some people'.

This story was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times, on May 7, 2008.