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Research: VIRTAMO and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 94
Abstract
VIRTAMO and colleagues, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland, have investigated the incidence of cancer after vitamin E and pro-vitamin A supplementation.
Background
Background: A large Finnish alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene study found that alpha-tocopherol supplementation decreased the risk of prostate cancer whereas beta-carotene supplementation increased the risk of lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to look at the study population again and see if there were longer-term effects of vitamin supplementation.
Methodology
Methods: Post-intervention follow-up assessment of cancer incidence and mortality was carried out on the 25,563 men from the original study for a period of up to 8 years. In the study, 29,133 male smokers had received either 50 mg of alpha-tocopherol, 20 mg of beta-carotene, both vitamins, or placebo every day for 5 to 8 years.
Results
Results: The overall relative risk for lung cancer after several years was 1.06 among recipients of beta-carotene compared with others. The relative risk for prostate cancer was 0.88 for men receiving alpha-tocopherol compared to others. No late preventive effects on other types of cancer were found.
Conclusion
Conclusions: The effects, beneficial and adverse, of vitamin A and E supplementation on cancer disappear within 4 to 6 years after the supplementation ceases. The prostate cancer preventive effect of alpha tocopherol needs to be confirmed by other studies. Smokers should avoid beta-carotene supplementation.
References
Virtamo J, Pietinen P, Huttunen JK, Korhonen P, Malila N, Virtanen MJ, Albanes D, Taylor PR, Albert P. Incidence of cancer and mortality following alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplementation: a postintervention follow-up. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 290 (4): 476-485, Jul 2003.
