Gmcarter
Wed, May-16-07, 06:15
This is disturbing--but the media tend to fuck things up. I
wonder what the data really show?
Also--the difference between relative and absolute risk must
be considered.
George M. Carter
***
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6657795.stm It's still not
entirely clear what factors can affect a man's risk of
developing prostate cancer Liz Baker, Cancer Research UK
Multivitamin prostate warning
Taking lots of multivitamins may increase the risk of deadly
prostate cancer, say US researchers.
A study in nearly 300,000 men showed taking multivitamins more
than seven times a week increased the risk of advanced and
fatal prostate cancer.
There was no link with early cancer or localised prostate
cancer, the researchers wrote in the Journal of the National
Cancer Institute.
Experts advised men to eat a healthy diet to reduce their risk
of cancer.
The findings indicated the risk of advanced prostate cancer is
32% higher in men who take multivitamins more than once a day
compared with those who do not take them at all.
Risk of fatal prostate cancer was almost double.
The correlation was strongest for men with a family history of
the disease, and who also took selenium, beta-carotene or zinc
supplements.
It is unclear why the multivitamins may increase the risk of
certain types of prostate cancer.
Study leader Dr Karla Lawson from the US National Cancer
Institute said: "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."
Because multivitamins contain so many different components and
men taking a lot of them were more likely to be taking other
supplements, the researchers were unable to tease out what was
causing the association.
In an accompanying editorial, European researchers said a high
intake of fruit and vegetables has been shown to reduce the
risk of cancer.
But it is not clear which nutrients have a positive effect.
Antioxidants
There has been a lot of research into antioxidants such as
vitamin C and E because it is believed they may protect cells
against damage.
However, some analyses have suggested that beta-carotene,
vitamin A and vitamin E supplements may shorten life rather
than extend it.
The amounts of antioxidants needed to offer any potential
protection are not known and may differ between individuals.
Liz Baker, science information officer at Cancer Research UK,
said: "It's still not entirely clear what factors can affect a
man's risk of developing prostate cancer.
"And 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 fibre, vegetables and fruit, and low in red
and processed meat."
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in
men. It kills one man every hour in the UK.
wonder what the data really show?
Also--the difference between relative and absolute risk must
be considered.
George M. Carter
***
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6657795.stm It's still not
entirely clear what factors can affect a man's risk of
developing prostate cancer Liz Baker, Cancer Research UK
Multivitamin prostate warning
Taking lots of multivitamins may increase the risk of deadly
prostate cancer, say US researchers.
A study in nearly 300,000 men showed taking multivitamins more
than seven times a week increased the risk of advanced and
fatal prostate cancer.
There was no link with early cancer or localised prostate
cancer, the researchers wrote in the Journal of the National
Cancer Institute.
Experts advised men to eat a healthy diet to reduce their risk
of cancer.
The findings indicated the risk of advanced prostate cancer is
32% higher in men who take multivitamins more than once a day
compared with those who do not take them at all.
Risk of fatal prostate cancer was almost double.
The correlation was strongest for men with a family history of
the disease, and who also took selenium, beta-carotene or zinc
supplements.
It is unclear why the multivitamins may increase the risk of
certain types of prostate cancer.
Study leader Dr Karla Lawson from the US National Cancer
Institute said: "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."
Because multivitamins contain so many different components and
men taking a lot of them were more likely to be taking other
supplements, the researchers were unable to tease out what was
causing the association.
In an accompanying editorial, European researchers said a high
intake of fruit and vegetables has been shown to reduce the
risk of cancer.
But it is not clear which nutrients have a positive effect.
Antioxidants
There has been a lot of research into antioxidants such as
vitamin C and E because it is believed they may protect cells
against damage.
However, some analyses have suggested that beta-carotene,
vitamin A and vitamin E supplements may shorten life rather
than extend it.
The amounts of antioxidants needed to offer any potential
protection are not known and may differ between individuals.
Liz Baker, science information officer at Cancer Research UK,
said: "It's still not entirely clear what factors can affect a
man's risk of developing prostate cancer.
"And 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 fibre, vegetables and fruit, and low in red
and processed meat."
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in
men. It kills one man every hour in the UK.