Health News
2007-05-17
Multivitamins
linked to prostate cancer
Taking
multivitamins more than seven times a week may increase the
risk of fatal prostate cancer, says a study in the
Taking
multivitamins more than seven times a week may increase the
risk of fatal prostate cancer, says a study in the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Analysis of data
from nearly 300,000 men showed that the risk of advanced
prostate cancer is 32% higher in men who take multivitamins
more than once a day than in those who don’t
take them at all. And the risk of fatal prostate
cancer was almost double.
Men with a family
history of the disease who also took selenium,
beta-carotene, or zinc supplements had the greatest risk.
“The
possibility that men taking high levels of multivitamins
along with other supplements have increased risk of
advanced and fatal prostate cancers is of concern and
merits further evaluation,” said study leader
Dr. Karla Lawson to the BBC.
Previous research
has shown that antioxidants such as vitamins C and E
may protect cells against damage. However, other studies
have indicated that beta-carotene, vitamin A, and
vitamin E supplements may shorten your life.
Liz Baker,
science information officer at Cancer Research UK, told the
BBC: “There is conflicting evidence on the pros and
cons of vitamin supplements. These products don't seem
to give us the same benefits as vitamins that
naturally occur in our food. We encourage people wanting to
reduce their risk of cancer to eat a diet rich in fiber,
vegetables, and fruit, and low in red and processed
meat.
Prostate cancer
is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. (The
Advocate)
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