Vitamin supplements do more harm than good

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Vitamins 'do more harm than good' ITN - April 16

Taking supplements such as vitamins A and E could actually do more

harm than good, experts say.

A review of 67 studies found " no convincing evidence " that antioxidant

supplements beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and

selenium increase longevity and could even shorten life expectancy.

Experts said: " Beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E given singly or

combined with other antioxidant supplements significantly increase

mortality. "

However, Vitamin C did not appear to have any effect one way or the

other, and the team said more work was needed into this supplement and

into selenium.

The beta-carotene dose ranged from 1.2mg to 50mg daily, with an

average of 18mg, while vitamin C ranged from 60mg to 2000mg daily,

with an average of 497mg.

When the different antioxidants were assessed separately and low risk

of bias trials were included and selenium excluded, vitamin A was

linked to a 16 per cent increased risk of dying, beta-carotene to a 7

per cent increased risk and vitamin E to a 4 per cent increased risk.

In the low risk of bias trials, the " antioxidant supplements

significantly increased mortality " , the authors wrote.

Goran Bjelakovic, a visiting researcher who carried out the review at

Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, added: " We could find no

evidence to support taking antioxidant supplements to reduce the risk

of dying earlier in healthy people or patients with various diseases.

" The findings of our review show that if anything, people in trial

groups given the antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E

showed increased rates of mortality.

" There was no indication that vitamin C and selenium may have positive

or negative effects. So regarding these antioxidants we need more data

from randomised trials. The bottom line is that current evidence does

not support the use of antioxidant supplements in the general healthy

population or in patients with certain diseases. "

Holford, a nutritionist who has formulated some supplements

for the firm Biocare, said the Cochrane review was a " stitch up " . He

added: " Antioxidants are not meant to be magic bullets and should not

be expected to undo a lifetime of unhealthy habits.

" But when used properly, in combination with eating a healthy diet

full of fruit and vegetables, getting plenty of exercise and not

smoking, antioxidant supplements can play an important role in

maintaining and promoting overall health. "

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