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Supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta carotene doesn't do much to prevent cancer


Antioxidant supplements do not help much! In fact there have been studies that indicate they might do more harm than good.


Vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene Supplementation and Cancer Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Observational studies suggest that a diet high in fruits and vegetables, both of which are rich with antioxidants, may prevent cancer development. However, findings from randomized trials of the association between antioxidant use and cancer risk have been mostly negative....

Conclusions Supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta carotene offers no overall benefits in the primary prevention of total cancer incidence or cancer mortality.




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Peter said…
Interesting set of recent posts Chris,

This antioxidants study reminds me so much of the WHEL and PPT studies, but using isolated chemicals instead of plants. Do people not realise that there is homeostasis in oxidation control and that the body uses free radicals for both good and bad purposes? Stopping the damage by stopping the sugar looks a better approach to my biased eyes.

I had assumed that sucrose worked through fructose and hepatic insulin resistance leading to hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, but your links in the cancer post make it look like there may be direct damage through gene expression. Have to think that set of ideas a bit...

Thanks

Happy New Year

Peter
January 2, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Chris said…
thanks Peter.

Happy new year to you too. hope you get lots of surfing this year
January 2, 2009 at 3:41 PM
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