If something sounds too good to be true...
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If something sounds too good to be true . . . Despite strong public belief in the benefits of antioxidant supplements, and the widespread use of such products, there is little solid evidence of their efficacy and some may in fact be harmful, according to article in the New Scientist. Since the 1950s, many diseases, including heart disease, dementia ,stroke and certain types of cancer, have been linked to damage caused by free radicals. When studies in the 1980s demonstrated associations between diets high in fruit and vegetables rich sources of antioxidants, and lower incidences of these diseases, the hypothesis that antioxidants were protective was established, and the dietary supplement industry was born.
. . . it probably is However, most double-blind, randomised, controlled (RCT) trials involving these products demonstrate a distinct lack of efficacy. Indeed, one RCT evaluating betacarotene was halted early due to associated increased risks of lung cancer and death, but as the investigators could not rule out the result being a chance finding, betacarotene remains widely available. Similarly, tocopherol [vitamin E] has been largely ineffective in RCTs, with a pooled analysis of studies actually revealing an increased mortality risk. Although these antioxidants are essential to normal function, benefits from the supplement are usually only obvious in people who are initially deficient. The article concludes that "whatever is behind the health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you cannot reproduce it by taking purified extracts or vitamin supplements". Melton L. The antioxidant myth. New Scientist 191: 40-43, No. 2563, 5 Aug 801047094 2006
0114-9954/10/1121-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Reactions 30 Sep 2006 No. 1121
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