Long-term use of Vitamins C and E does not prevent cancer, concluded the Physicians' Health Study II, the American Association for Cancer Research (Philadelphia) announced on November 16.
Long-term use of Vitamins C and E does not prevent cancer, concluded the Physicians' Health Study II, the American Association for Cancer Research (Philadelphia) announced on November 16.
The study included 14,641 physicians, who were given either a placebo or 400 IU of vitamin E every other day; or 500 mg of vitamin C daily or its placebo.
Researchers followed these patients for up to 10 years.
"After nearly 10 years of supplementation with either vitamin E or vitamin C, we found no evidence supporting the use of either supplement in the prevention of cancer," said Howard D. Sesso, MPH., an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
"While vitamin E and C supplement use did not produce any protective benefits, they also did not cause any harm," he added.
Study co-author J. Michael Gaziano, MD, associate professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and VA Boston, said, "Individual vitamin supplements such as vitamin E and C do not appear to provide the same potential advantages as vitamins included as part of a healthy, balanced diet."
"Our results represent one of only a few clinical trials that have tested this idea,” Sesso said.
“The final component of the Physicians' Health Study II, testing daily multivitamin supplementation, remains ongoing."
The Nutritional Outlook Podcast Episode 39: Nutritional Outlook's Ingredients to Watch in 2025
February 25th 2025In this episode, Nutritional Outlook interviews Scott Dicker, market insights director from market researcher SPINS, about ingredients and product categories nutraceutical and nutrition product manufacturers should watch in 2025.