Do you have questions men's health related?
Please send them!
If you have a question related to men's health, please fill the form bellow.
1. It is a must to provide a valid email, unless you want your questions to be ignored.
We won't make your email public, but we like to talk with live persons.
2. To protect
your identity, take care the name you fill. We make public your name exactly as it is.
|
Public release date: 16 April 2008
[
]
Vitamin Supplements Seem to Increase Mortality
It has been thought beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium may be able to prevent
damage to the body's tissues called "oxidative stress" by eliminating the molecules called "free radicals"
which are said to cause it.
However, a recent review has suggested that certain vitamin supplements do not extend life and could even
lead to a premature death. According to a scientific team at Copenhagen University, vitamins A and E could
interfere with the body's natural defenses. At the same time, the respected Cochrane Collaboration has
revealed that even beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E seem to increase mortality.
The trials reviewed 817 on beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium studies which the
team felt were the most likely to fairly reflect the impact of the supplements on reducing mortality.
People involved were either sick or were healthy and taking supplements for disease prevention.
After various factors were taken into account, the researchers linked vitamin A supplements to a 16%
increased risk of dying, beta-carotene to a 7% increased risk and vitamin E to a 4% increased risk.
Vitamin C, as well as selenium, did not appear to have any effect one way or the other, and the team
said more work was needed into this supplements
The researchers conclusion was that they have not evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary
or secondary prevention. They also revealed that it was unclear exactly why the supplements could have
this effect, but the team speculated that they could interfere with how the body works: beta-carotene,
for instance, is thought to change the way a body uses fats.
As a consequence, The UK Department of Health said people should try to get the vitamins they need from
their diet, and avoid taking large doses of supplements as vitamin supplements help the body and are not a substitute.
|
|
