The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between using various common vitamin supplements and the risk of developing lung cancer. About one-half of the population uses supplements. The results of this study come from the VITAL (Vitamins and Lifestyle) study of over 75,000 adults aged 50-76, who were primarily Caucasian.
Extensive evaluation was done of the patient’s histories of supplement use for 10 years up to the time of the study, and smoking histories were recorded. The patients were followed to see how often lung cancer developed in the studied population. Five hundred twenty-one patients developed lung cancer over the period of the study.
The incidence of lung cancer was evaluated and compared with average 10 year history of vitamin supplement intake of multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E and folate. “Adjusting for smoking, age, and sex, there was no inverse association with any supplement.”
“Supplemental vitamin E for a prolonged period of time was associated with a small increased risk of lung cancer. This risk of supplemental vitamin E was largely confined to current smokers.” The risk estimate was a 28% increase in risk of cancer when the patient was taking vitamin E 400 mg/day for 10 years.
CONCLUSION: The studied vitamin supplements taken for 10 years did not show evidence for reduction of lung cancer risk. A “slight” increased risk for lung cancer was seen with prolonged vitamin E use.
NOTE: There is scientific evidence from other studies that vitamins from fruits and vegetables are more useable for our bodies than the vitamins in the form of supplements.
Read about dietary quercetin and lung cancer risk.
To read the author’s abstract of the article click on the link to the author’s title of the article above.
PMID: 17989343.
Summary #228.
