Researchers at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in New York City examined the relationship between polyps and dietary and recreational habits as well as medications in a study of 157 patients with a mean age of 55 years.

They found cigarette smokers were more likely to have polyps, to have a greater number of polyps, and to have larger polyps than non-smokers.

In another finding, researchers found there was a significant association between the use of vitamin C and the absence of polyps. In this sample, 16 patients regularly consumed vitamin C supplements at doses equal to or more than 1,000 milligrams a day, and none of them had polyps.

The studies were presented Monday the 69th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Orlando, Fla.