In a new study from the University of Colorado Cancer Center, researchers analyzed 20 years of published studies about the effects of supplements on cancer risk. The findings suggest that too much of a good thing may be bad for you.
One study (published in 2006 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) showed that women who took high doses of folic acid supplements had a 19% greater risk for breast cancer than women who didn’t take the supplements.
In another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2011 and included more than 35,000 men, those who took high-dose vitamin E supplements had a 17% increased risk for cancer.
A 1994 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that male smokers who took beta-carotene supplements had an 18% higher risk for lung cancer compared with male smokers who didn’t take the supplements.
Experts recommend eating a balanced diet of healthy foods as the best way to get the daily recommended doses of vitamins and minerals.
Patient Resources
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietarysupplements/dietary-supplements-risks-and-side-effects
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/prostatesupplements/healthprofessional/page1
