Vitamin Trials for Cancer Prevention Offer Disappointing Results

Vitamin Trials Offer Disappointing Results

Two large studies performed in the United States show that using the vitamin supplements E and C have no effect on the risk of cancer.

Past medical evidence suggested that taking vitamins could increase the levels of anti-oxidants in the body and decrease the risk of developing cancer. However, these new studies have shown that taking these vitamins has no beneficial result in the rate of cancer development.

In the most recent studies researchers from University of Texas and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine gave volunteers a daily regimen of vitamins-either vitamin e, selenium, a combination of both or a placebo.

In all four groups the rate of prostate cancer was approximately the same and these disappointing results caused the researchers to abandon the study early.

Another study completed at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital tested the benefits of vitamins E and C on over 14,000 male doctors. The results again showed no impact on the rate of prostate or other cancers.

Jodie Moffat, a doctor with the charity Cancer Research UK said, "There are a lot of studies looking at whether vitamin and mineral supplements can reduce the risk of cancer but many of them, like this one, don't support a link."

"This new research means it is even less likely than we previously thought that supplements can protect against prostate cancer.

"Supplements don't substitute for a healthy diet and some studies have shown that they may actually increase the risk of cancer."

Other individuals have described the findings of these studies as disappointing, including John Neate of the Prostate Cancer Charity.

"Diet does seem important in the development of prostate cancer and we recommend reducing the amount of saturated fat eaten, keeping weight under control, and increasing the intake of fruit and vegetables," he said.

Health Supplements Information Service advisor, Dr Pamela Mason added that although these nutrients are vital for human health they must be used correctly.

"Vitamins and trace elements are not intended to be used like drugs. They are intended for health maintenance and for making up dietary gaps in the population," she said.

Earlier research has shown the use of Vitamin C in supplement form may decrease the effectiveness of some cancer treatments.

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