Fw: Fwd: A washingtonpost.com article on antioxidnats

[Guest guest]

Hello!

I am new to this group and enjoy very much all the topics presented in this group. Please give me some comments on this article that my son forwarded me. I take Radical Fruits from Garden of Life (an other of its products) and a diet with lots of raw food and at 54 I enjoy very good health that keeps me away from allopaths...Thanks!

Teresa Brito

Puerto Rico

 

By Rob SteinWashington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, February 28, 2007; Page A06

 

 

Supplements that millions of Americans take to stave off disease and slow the aging process do not boost longevity and appear to actually increase the risk of dying, according to the most comprehensive study of whether popular "antioxidants" help users live longer.

The analysis, which pooled data from 68 studies involving more than 232,000 people, found no evidence that taking beta carotene, Vitamin A or Vitamin E extends life span and, in fact, indicated that the supplements increase the likelihood of dying by about 5 percent. Vitamin C and selenium appeared to have no impact -- either way -- on longevity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Short Mental Workouts May Slow Decline of Aging Minds, Study Finds

"It would be interesting to know if factors such as stress, or sleep disorders etc. were taken into account. They can be quite memory inhibiting and are more likely to be present in the control group, as a lack of mental stimulation can increase self doubt, decrease confidence and cause a form of panic. Could this have put the control group behind, at the same time the motivated groups were leaping ahead and would this not effect the measurement of the outcome? "

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Based on the findings, published in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers warned that consumers should be cautious about taking supplements containing the nutrients. At least 150 million Americans regularly take dietary supplements that often include antioxidants.

"The message is: We shouldn't be putting anything in our mouths until we know whether it works," said Christian Gluud of the Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, who led the study. "It appears as if these substances may be harmful."

Representatives of the vitamin industry, as well as some other researchers, disputed the findings, criticizing the study for, among other things, including people who were already sick. People tend to take vitamins to stay healthy, they said.

"There's a large body of data that shows that antioxidant supplementation is beneficial," said Andrew Shao of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, an industry group. "The message to the average consumer is: Don't pay attention to this. This doesn't apply to you. You can go ahead and continue taking your antioxidant supplements in addition to the other things you do in your life to stay healthy."

But Gluud and his colleagues defended the findings, saying that the study used careful methods developed by the internationally respected Cochrane Collaboration, an independent nonprofit effort to methodically assess medical claims. The analysis included many large studies involving healthy people, and the increased risk was clear after accounting for factors that could confuse the findings, Gluud said.

"That is what is disturbing," he said.

Other researchers, while noting that vitamins are useful for people who have nutritional deficiencies, said the findings should prompt people to reconsider whether to continue taking megadoses in an effort to live longer.

"This study shows that these products do not prolong life and may actually shorten it," said Paul M. Coates, who directs the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. "If you are taking antioxidant supplements, it would be a good idea to review the results of this study, reflect on why you are taking them and what you hope to gain."

The findings do not necessarily apply to antioxidants found naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods, Gluud and other researchers stressed. But the findings are consistent with evidence suggesting that some nutrients may be harmful at high doses or could interfere with the body's natural defenses, Gluud and other researchers said.

"By taking these supplements, you might be impeding your immune system's ability to fight off disease or risk factors for chronic disease," said Edgar Miller III of Johns Hopkins University, who in 2004 reported similar findings about Vitamin E. "People are taking these supplements with the presumption that they will live longer or better. This shows they are not living longer and in fact may be at higher risk of dying."

Other researchers were cautious about concluding that the substances were dangerous but said the study added to the now large body of evidence indicating that the hoped-for health benefits have not materialized.

"They probably won't kill you, but they're not going to do any good for you if what you want is to live longer," said Donald A. Berry, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Antioxidant supplements became a multibillion-dollar business after studies indicated that the substances may promote health by mopping up damaging "free radicals," which are natural byproducts of cellular processes in the body.

But a series of studies testing the benefits of taking antioxidants and other nutritional supplements have been disappointing. Another study released Monday found that consuming garlic does not lower cholesterol. And several studies have even been alarming, indicating, for example, that beta carotene increased rather than decreased the risk of lung cancer among smokers, and that Vitamin E -- touted to prevent heart disease -- appeared to boost the overall risk of death.

Gluud and his colleagues combed the scientific literature for every study published about antioxidants since 1990 and found 68 involving 232,606 people. Among those, the researchers identified 47 trials involving 180,938 subjects that they classified as "low-bias" because they did the best job of eliminating factors that might produce faulty results.

When they analyzed that data, the researchers found that those taking any antioxidant were 5 percent more likely to die than those who were not. With Vitamin E, the risk rose 4 percent; with beta carotene, 7 percent; and with Vitamin A, 16 percent.

Even though the possible increased risk was relatively small, the "public health consequences may be substantial" because of the large number of people taking the substances, the researchers said.

Vitamin C and selenium did not appear to have any effect on the risk of dying. But Gluud said that "the verdict is still out on those two."

Efforts are still underway to assess the value of taking individual antioxidants for specific purposes, including a large federal study that is testing whether Vitamin E and selenium reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

[Guest guest]

I too, am new to this group. I don't know about Dr. Gluud, but after

nearly 20 years (a lifetime actually but 20 bad years) of suffering

from allergies and asthma, and many trips to the hospital during the

summer months, I found a hollistic allergist. It would be safe to

say he changed my life. After five months of diet, and lots of

immune boosting vitamins and supplements, I was allergy and asthma

free. No more advair, no more patanol, asteline, nasonex, allegra,

flonase, singulair and zyrtec. This was an every day dose for me

before my supplements. I take shaklee supplements daily because of

the purity standards, and if I do happen to increase my chances of

death by 5 percent, it would be worth it to not be sick. I feel good

and I know that the changes I made is what stopped it

>

> Hello!

> I am new to this group and enjoy very much all the topics presented

in this group. Please give me some comments on this article that my

son forwarded me. I take Radical Fruits from Garden of Life (an

other of its products) and a diet with lots of raw food and at 54 I

enjoy very good health that keeps me away from allopaths...Thanks!

> Teresa Brito

> Puerto Rico

>

> By Rob Stein

> Washington Post Staff Writer

> Wednesday, February 28, 2007; Page A06

> Supplements that millions of Americans take to stave off disease

and slow the aging process do not boost longevity and appear to

actually increase the risk of dying, according to the most

comprehensive study of whether popular " antioxidants " help users live

longer.

> The analysis, which pooled data from 68 studies involving more than

232,000 people, found no evidence that taking beta carotene, Vitamin

A or Vitamin E extends life span and, in fact, indicated that the

supplements increase the likelihood of dying by about 5 percent.

Vitamin C and selenium appeared to have no impact -- either way -- on

longevity.

>

> What Readers Are Saying

> Your Comments On...

>

> Short Mental Workouts May Slow Decline of Aging Minds, Study Finds

> " It would be interesting to know if factors such as stress, or

sleep disorders etc. were taken into account. They can be quite

memory inhibiting and are more likely to be present in the control

group, as a lack of mental stimulation can increase self doubt,

decrease confidence and cause a form of panic. Could this have put

the control group behind, at the same time the motivated groups were

leaping ahead and would this not effect the measurement of the

outcome? "

> -- By smilesturner01 ;

> • View, Add More Comments

> • Read the Story

>

> Who's Blogging?

> Read what bloggers are saying about this article.

>

> From Where I Sit

> Slog | The Stranger's Blog | The Stranger | Seattle's Only Newspaper

> Knight Science Journalism Tracker

>

>

> Full List of Blogs (8 links) »

>

>

> Most Blogged About Articles

> On washingtonpost.com | On the web

>

>

> Save & Share ArticleWhat's This?

>

> Digg

> Google

>

>

> del.icio.us

>

>

>

> Reddit

> Facebook

>

>

> Based on the findings, published in today's issue of the Journal of

the American Medical Association, the researchers warned that

consumers should be cautious about taking supplements containing the

nutrients. At least 150 million Americans regularly take dietary

supplements that often include antioxidants.

> " The message is: We shouldn't be putting anything in our mouths

until we know whether it works, " said Christian Gluud of the

Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, who led the study. " It

appears as if these substances may be harmful. "

> Representatives of the vitamin industry, as well as some other

researchers, disputed the findings, criticizing the study for, among

other things, including people who were already sick. People tend to

take vitamins to stay healthy, they said.

> " There's a large body of data that shows that antioxidant

supplementation is beneficial, " said Andrew Shao of the Council for

Responsible Nutrition, an industry group. " The message to the average

consumer is: Don't pay attention to this. This doesn't apply to you.

You can go ahead and continue taking your antioxidant supplements in

addition to the other things you do in your life to stay healthy. "

> But Gluud and his colleagues defended the findings, saying that the

study used careful methods developed by the internationally respected

Cochrane Collaboration, an independent nonprofit effort to

methodically assess medical claims. The analysis included many large

studies involving healthy people, and the increased risk was clear

after accounting for factors that could confuse the findings, Gluud

said.

> " That is what is disturbing, " he said.

> Other researchers, while noting that vitamins are useful for people

who have nutritional deficiencies, said the findings should prompt

people to reconsider whether to continue taking megadoses in an

effort to live longer.

> " This study shows that these products do not prolong life and may

actually shorten it, " said Paul M. Coates, who directs the Office of

Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. " If you are

taking antioxidant supplements, it would be a good idea to review the

results of this study, reflect on why you are taking them and what

you hope to gain. "

> The findings do not necessarily apply to antioxidants found

naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods, Gluud and other

researchers stressed. But the findings are consistent with evidence

suggesting that some nutrients may be harmful at high doses or could

interfere with the body's natural defenses, Gluud and other

researchers said.

> " By taking these supplements, you might be impeding your immune

system's ability to fight off disease or risk factors for chronic

disease, " said Edgar Miller III of Johns Hopkins University, who in

2004 reported similar findings about Vitamin E. " People are taking

these supplements with the presumption that they will live longer or

better. This shows they are not living longer and in fact may be at

higher risk of dying. "

> Other researchers were cautious about concluding that the

substances were dangerous but said the study added to the now large

body of evidence indicating that the hoped-for health benefits have

not materialized.

> " They probably won't kill you, but they're not going to do any good

for you if what you want is to live longer, " said Donald A. Berry, a

professor of biostatistics at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson

Cancer Center in Houston.

> Antioxidant supplements became a multibillion-dollar business after

studies indicated that the substances may promote health by mopping

up damaging " free radicals, " which are natural byproducts of cellular

processes in the body.

> But a series of studies testing the benefits of taking antioxidants

and other nutritional supplements have been disappointing. Another

study released Monday found that consuming garlic does not lower

cholesterol. And several studies have even been alarming, indicating,

for example, that beta carotene increased rather than decreased the

risk of lung cancer among smokers, and that Vitamin E -- touted to

prevent heart disease -- appeared to boost the overall risk of death.

> Gluud and his colleagues combed the scientific literature for every

study published about antioxidants since 1990 and found 68 involving

232,606 people. Among those, the researchers identified 47 trials

involving 180,938 subjects that they classified as " low-bias " because

they did the best job of eliminating factors that might produce

faulty results.

> When they analyzed that data, the researchers found that those

taking any antioxidant were 5 percent more likely to die than those

who were not. With Vitamin E, the risk rose 4 percent; with beta

carotene, 7 percent; and with Vitamin A, 16 percent.

> Even though the possible increased risk was relatively small,

the " public health consequences may be substantial " because of the

large number of people taking the substances, the researchers said.

> Vitamin C and selenium did not appear to have any effect on the

risk of dying. But Gluud said that " the verdict is still out on those

two. "

> Efforts are still underway to assess the value of taking individual

antioxidants for specific purposes, including a large federal study

that is testing whether Vitamin E and selenium reduce the risk of

prostate cancer.

>