« Researchers Identify and Shut Down Protein That Fuels Ovarian Cancer | Main | Study Suggests Diet Affects Prostate Cancer Risk »

February 29, 2008

Multivitamins Do Not Reduce Risk for Lung Cancer

Topics: Medical Science News

Investigators report a prospective study that the long-term use of supplemental multivitamins does not reduce the risk of developing lung cancer, and high doses of vitamin E may even raise the risk, particularly in smokers:

... these findings "should prompt clinicians to counsel patients that these supplements are unlikely to reduce the risk of lung cancer and may be detrimental," say Christopher G. Slatore, MD, from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, and colleagues.

"Vitamin pills are widely used with the idea that supplementing our diet with extra vitamins must be a good thing," comments Tim Byers, MD, MPH, from the University of Colorado in Aurora, Colorado, in an accompanying editorial. "However, almost every time we take a hard look at objective evidence regarding nutritional supplements, the balance tips away from benefit and toward harm."

"Over the past two decades, we have been repeatedly disappointed in the ability of vitamin supplements to reduce risk for cancers at several sites, including the stomach, colorectum, breast, and lung. Foods that are rich in vitamins seem to be associated with a reduced risk of cancer, but vitamins packaged as pills clearly do not have the same effect,"

More here...

Perhaps the most important point to take home from the article is that the principle of synergistic interaction within components of biological systems indeed applies to vitamins, particularly - many of which can be pro-oxidants as well as antioxidants. As is offered in the article, "How could a beneficial effect of consuming fruits be consistent with an adverse effect of a nutrient that is derived in a large part from that same food group?" The likely answer is that "processes involved in biologic systems end up being far more complex than we had previously thought. Fruits contain not only vitamins but also many hundreds of other phytochemical compounds whose functions are not well understood."

As for smokers, stop smoking: Cigarette smoking is thought to be the primary reason for 90% of all lung cancers

Related: Readers will find an excellent perspective and review of the study (as it relates to Vitamin E specifically) here ....

Posted by Richard at February 29, 2008 1:18 PM

Articles Related to Medical Science News: