Posted on 04/15/2008 8:34:19 PM PDT by blam
Vitamin pills 'increase risk of early death'
By Kate Devlin, Medical Correspondent
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 16/04/2008
Popular vitamin supplements taken by millions of people in the hope of improving their health may do no good and could increase the risk of a premature death, researchers report today.
They warn healthy people who take antioxidant supplements, including vitamins A and E, to try to keep diseases such as cancer at bay that they are interfering with their natural body defences and may be increasing their risk of an early death by up to 16 per cent.
Antioxidants, including vitamins A, E, and C are said to mop up free radicals, which cause disease
Researchers at Copenhagen University carried out a review of 67 studies on 230,000 healthy people and found "no convincing evidence" that any of the antioxidants helped to prolong life expectancy. But some "increased mortality".
About 12 million Britons supplement their diets with vitamins and the industry is worth £330 million. But little research has been done on the long-term health implications.
The Department of Health said yesterday that people should try to get the vitamins they need by eating a balanced diet and advised care in taking large doses of supplements.
A spokesman said: "There is a need to exercise caution in the use of high doses of purified supplements of vitamins, including antioxidant vitamins, and minerals. Their impact on long-term health may not have been fully established and they cannot be assumed to be without risk.
"Anyone concerned about their diet should speak to their doctor or dietitian."
Antioxidants, including vitamins A, E, C and beta-carotene and selenium, are said to mop up compounds, called free radicals, which cause disease. It is this action that researchers believe may cause problems with the defence system.
The Danish research, released by the influential Cochrane Library, applied only to synthetic supplements and not to vitamins that occur naturally in vegetables and fruit.
It found that vitamin A supplements increased the risk of death in healthy people by 16 per cent. Taking beta-carotene was linked to a 7 per cent increased risk, while regular users of vitamin E supplements increased the risk of an early death by four per cent.
Although the review found no significant detrimental effect caused by vitamin C, it found no evidence that it helped ward off disease. Millions take it in the hope of avoiding a common cold.
Goran Bjelakovic, who led the review, said: "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.
"If anything, people in trial groups given the antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E showed increased rates of mortality."
But Patrick Holford, a nutritionist who has formulated supplements for the company Biocare, said: "Antioxidants are not meant to be magic bullets and should not be expected to undo a lifetime of unhealthy habits.
"When used properly, in combination with 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."
A spokesman for the Health Supplements Information Service said: "People should get all the vitamins and minerals they need from their diet, but for the millions who are not able to do that, vitamins can be a useful supplement and they should not stop taking them."
However, Catherine Collins, of the British Dietetic Association, said: "This study is deeply worrying and shows that there should be more regulation for vitamins and minerals.
"The public can buy vitamins as easily as sweets. They should be treated in the same way as paracetamol with maximum limits on the dosage."
I’m too old for fashionable. :>)
Slightly pudgy in a comfortable way better discribes me.
Ah, yes... Must get my mind out of Agutter...
:>O
LOL. Well, I don’t think I’d be too big on the suppositories either!
True, doctors do however believe in prescribing toxic drugs, with nasty side effects, controled by the corrupt FDA.
Fish oil is good for the Omegas, but I take this for my Omega-3’s and 6’s:
http://www.barleans.com/flaxoil.asp#.html
Put it in the blender or food processor with cottage cheese, honey, your choice of fruit juice, and milk or soy milk, and it turns into a nice little custard.
And if you believe the studies that Dr. Johanna Budwig has done, it will serve as a cancer preventative too, due to the way flax oil interacts with the cottage cheese.
For extra cancer prevention, throw in some almond meal.
Our Barn sho nuff likes thing that go in the back door.
Ditto on the more control.
Many of these studies rely on self-reporting by subjects, quite possibly leading to inaccuracies in supplement identification and dose.
***LOL. Well, I don’t think I’d be too big on the suppositories either!***
And they taste terrible!!!!!!!!!!!
They do look a bit fish-eyed, don’t they?
"The public can buy vitamins as easily as sweets. They should be treated in the same way as paracetamol with maximum limits on the dosage."
This study, and the kind of uncritical publicity it receives, outrages me.
Reviews of this study that find good reason to criticize it can be found at:
Luke 13
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Amos 3:6
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Yes, that’s the kind of look you get when you’ve been to the proctologist one too many times.
Sir, please do not equate Calvinism with Islam. Calvinists worship the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Anybody with a sense of wisdom would know that. If you do not like Calvin, that is fine. That is your problem, not mine. Whatever your belief, I did not, nor will I make fun of it. If you want more information about what I believe, please ask, do not make assumptions.
Hmmm. Dr. Chocolate. I’ll have to read this one. Thanks.
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