In This Article
Subscribe to Health Updates
Antioxidant Linked to Increased Cancer Risk
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota find that beta carotene increases the risk of cancer and the risk of dying from cancer among smokers.
30-Second Summary
The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, reports that beta carotene supplements can increase the risk of cancer by 10 percent among smokers.
The study also linked beta carotene supplementation to a trend toward a greater risk of dying from cancer among smokers.
The researchers studied 12 trials and over 100,000 patients, testing the impact of antioxidants such as beta carotene on cancer incidence and mortality.
More generally, the study found that antioxidants did not significantly reduce the risk of cancer.
The study also linked beta carotene supplementation to a trend toward a greater risk of dying from cancer among smokers.
The researchers studied 12 trials and over 100,000 patients, testing the impact of antioxidants such as beta carotene on cancer incidence and mortality.
More generally, the study found that antioxidants did not significantly reduce the risk of cancer.
Headline Links: Beta carotene linked to increased cancer risk
In addition to its findings about beta carotene, the Mayo Clinic study revealed that selenium supplements reduced the risk of cancer by 23 percent among men. The research also suggested that vitamin E is linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer.
Source: Yahoo News
The abstract of the study, “Efficacy of Antioxidant Supplementation in Reducing Primary Cancer Incidence and Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,” is available for free online. The full document can be downloaded for a fee.
Source: Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Background: The pros and cons of beta carotene
Web MD recommends that patients stay away from beta carotene, which it reports has been linked to an increase in “all-cause mortality and a slight increase in cardiovascular death.”
Source: WebMD
Health benefits
In November 2007, researchers reported that taking beta carotene supplements for 15 years or more may lessen the risk of dementia. Lead researcher Francine Grodstein from Harvard Medical School stated, "Our research supports the possibility of successful interventions at early stages of brain aging in healthy adults." However, she also noted that in the case of smokers, “beta carotene supplements increase the lung cancer mortality rate.”
Source: Health Day
Related Topic: ‘Conflicting Health Studies Stir Confusion’
findingDulcinea reports on how to make sense of conflicting health reports: “Medical advice on what is good or bad for our health sometimes seems as changeable as the weather. But even casual readers can make informed choices from apparently contradictory findings.”
Source: finding Dulcinea
Reference: National Cancer Institute and beta carotene
The National Cancer Institute is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health and provides information on cancer topics, clinical trials, research, funding and the latest news.
Source: National Cancer Institute
What is beta carotene?
According to Medline Plus, beta carotene “is a member of the carotenoids, which are highly pigmented (red, orange, yellow), fat-soluble compounds naturally present in many fruits, grains, oil and vegetables.” The site also reviews the uses of beta carotene and its impact on certain conditions and diseases.
Source: Medline Plus
Most Recent Beyond The Headlines
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
