-Caveat Lector-
Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: February 28, 2007 12:09:52 PM PST
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Vitamin Risk
Like my optometrist told me: when taken by smokers, Vitamin A may
result in getting cancer
Vitamins 'shorten lifespan'
BBC News, February 28, 2007
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/1/
hi/health/6399773.stm
Taking vitamin supplements may adversely affect people's lifespan,
researchers have suggested.
Millions worldwide use antioxidant supplements such as vitamins A
and E, and beta-carotene.
Looking at dozens of previous studies, Copenhagen University
researchers suggested these appeared to raise, not lower, the risk
of early death.
A supplements industry expert said the Journal of the American
Medical Association study was fatally flawed.
But nutritionists said it reinforced the need to eat a balanced
diet, rather than relying on supplements.
While vitamin supplements have been popular for decades, the
precise benefits they offer - if any - remain uncertain, despite
hundreds of research projects.
Considering that 10% to 20% of the adult population in Europe and
North America may consume the supplements, the public health
consequences may be substantial
University of Copenhagen research team
More recent theories suggest that certain vitamins consumed as part
of a healthy diet - and perhaps taken in supplement form - may be
able to prevent damage to the body's tissues called 'oxidative
stress' by eliminating the molecules called 'free radicals' which
are said to cause it.
This damage has been implicated in several major diseases including
cancer and heart disease, yet the implication that vitamin
supplements might protect people from these illnesses is
controversial.
Vitamin overview
The Copenhagen team reviewed more than 815 clinical trials into the
benefits of vitamins A, E, and C, alongside beta-carotene and
selenium - all commonly-used supplements.
How sensible scientists can suggest a single antioxidant supplement
can have a major effect where patients already have advanced
cardiovascular disease is ridiculous
Dr Ann Walker
Health Supplements Information Service
They selected 68 whose methods were more likely to produce an
accurate picture of vitamin benefits, then added their results
together to form one, large-scale study.
This overview suggested that taking antioxidant supplements neither
increased, nor reduced, the risk of early death.
However, when the researchers eliminated a further 21 trials which
had a slightly higher possibility of producing a skewed result, the
picture changed considerably.
While the risk of death was unchanged among selenium and vitamin C
users, a statistically significant increase in risk emerged for the
other three supplements.
Beta-carotene produced an approximate 7% increased risk, vitamin E
a 4% increase and vitamin A, a 16% increase.
We already know that taking supplements isn't in any way a
replacement for a good balanced diet
Dr Frankie Phillips
British Dietetic Association
The researchers wrote: "Our findings contradict the findings of
observational studies claiming that antioxidants improve health.
"Considering that 10% to 20% of the adult population in Europe and
North America may consume the supplements, the public health
consequences may be substantial."
They said there were several different explanations for this
increase in risk - and suggested that knocking out 'free radicals'
might actually interfere with a natural defence mechanism within
the body.
The team called for more research into the effects of vitamin
supplements on health.
'Balanced diet
Dr Frankie Phillips, a nutritionist at the British Dietetic
Association, said food contained a complex matrix of different
components which could not be replicated by supplements.
"Our advice is to eat a wide range of foods in a balanced diet
which can provide all of the nutrients the body needs to protect
itself and combat diseases."
Ellen Mason, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "We would
recommend that you only take substances to protect against heart
disease, whether dietary supplements or drugs, that have been
proven in well conducted clinical trials."
However, Dr Ann Walker, of the Health Supplements Information
Service, said the findings of the study were "worthless".
She said some of the studies which had been examined by the
Copenhagen team involved patients who were already seriously ill.
"How sensible scientists can suggest that a modest intervention of
a single antioxidant supplement, can have a major effect in
reversing life-threatening pathology, where patients already have
advanced cardiovascular disease, is ridiculous.
"Vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements not only have proven
health benefits, they are essential to the maintenance of good
health and can help bridge the nutritional gap for many people in
the UK whose diets are often lacking in essential nutrients."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/6399773.stm
Published: 2007/02/28 00:04:44 GMT
© BBC MMVII
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