Emphasizing that vitamins should not be consumed continuously and without medical supervision, Dr. Mansour Rajabi Vahid, Assistant Professor at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, announced that gradual cigarette reduction ultimately leads to failure, and that waterpipe (shisha) and smokeless tobacco carry severe health risks.

According to WebDA-Zanjan, in an interview with the WebDA news portal, Dr. Mansour Rajabi Vahid, oncology subspecialist and assistant professor at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, referred to research findings regarding the chemoprevention of cancers, stating: “Scientific findings indicate that consuming supplements such as beta-carotene or vitamin A in smokers not only failed to reduce the risk of lung malignancies, but actually exacerbated the likelihood of their incidence. Furthermore, high doses of vitamin E are associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic strokes; accordingly, pharmaceutical supplements must not be consumed continuously and without a physician’s approval.”Regarding effective methods for tobacco cessation, he asserted: “Clinical experiences and research demonstrate that the method of gradually reducing cigarette consumption fails in most cases, and the most effective approach for treating dependence is abrupt and complete cessation.”

Rejecting the hypothesis that shisha, pipes, or chewing tobacco are low-risk, the university assistant professor emphasized: “The intense inhalation associated with shisha consumption guides pollutants deep into the pulmonary tissues; moreover, the use of smokeless/chewing tobacco paves the way for individuals to develop oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal malignancies.”