Can Vitamins Protect You from Air Pollution?

A new study conducted by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in the USA has found that taking high dosages of vitamin B may offset the harmful effects of exposure to air pollution.

The research, which was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), tested a small pool of volunteers and found encouraging results with regards to the combative effects of B vitamins against particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). However, the scientists behind the study have stressed that their findings need corroboration from further investigations.

PM2.5 the target

Figures estimating the number of deaths attributable to air pollution range from 3.2 million to 7 million every year, and as many as 90% of those deaths are thought to be caused by PM2.5. So named because of its microscopic size (all particles have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, or roughly 1/30^th of the width of a human hair), this tiny contaminant is a proven killer.

Because it is so small, PM2.5 can easily be inhaled and fester in the airways, while it even has the potential to infiltrate the bloodstream. Though the full effects of the contaminant are not yet known, it has been linked to an increase incidence of respiratory and coronary complications, as well as irregular blood clotting, mental illness and more.   

Furthermore, PM2.5 is also believed to have a detrimental effect on our DNA at the epigenetic level. This means that the pollutants can attack our genes and inhibit our defences, thus having a serious knock-on effect on our body’s immune system.

Vitamin B to the rescue?

The study, which was conducted by a team of international scientists but based in Massachusetts, tested a group of 10 volunteers. The subjects were first exposed to clean air and given a placebo drug to test their body’s basic responses. They were then exposed to air containing high concentrations of PM2.5 and given a daily supplement comprised of 1mg of vitamin B12, 2.5 mg of folic acid and 50mg of vitamin B6.

The results showed that after four weeks of taking the supplement, the subjects displayed a resistance of between 28% and 76% to the harmful effects of PM2.5, both at 10 disparate gene locations and at the mitochondrial level (the parts of a cells responsible for energy generation).

“Where we quantify the effect, it is almost close to a complete offset on the epigenome of the air pollution,” explained Jia Zhong, lead author on the study. “On the mitochondrial DNA side, it also offset a big proportion of it.”

However, Jia was quick to downplay the impact of the study, pointing out the small pool size and the high volume of vitamin B needed to elicit a response. “We didn't have different doses and the doses we used were quite high, higher than a normal pregnancy suggested intake. So it is quite high but at the same we did observe this protective effect,” he said.

Prevention always better than the cure

While the study holds some encouraging results, it must be remembered that it only encompassed a very small sample size and that further trials in big pollution hotspots, such as Beijing, Delhi or Mexico City, are needed to corroborate the findings.

What’s more, the discovery of vitamin B’s alleviative powers should not diminish efforts to reduce our emissions and bring air pollution under control all over the globe. Although certain directives have been introduced to regulate emissions on an industrial level, we should not forget our individual responsibility to clean up our airways.

This means minimising the use of automobiles wherever possible, reducing our electricity consumption and recycling as much as we can. It will take a huge effort – both collectively and individually – to address the current air quality crisis, but it’s an aim we can achieve together.