Antioxidants and Cancer: Researcher admits she got it wrong

October 29, 2009

24 April 2008

It was news when it was first revealed three years ago – and it was news again last week: antioxidant vitamins can speed up the development of cancer. But the researcher who first published the study has now admitted that she got it wrong.The original study – which made headlines around the world – found that cancer patients who took either vitamin A (beta-carotene) or E (alpha tocopherol) supplements were 40 per cent more likely to suffer a recurrence of their cancer than those who didn’t take any supplements.Ever since, nutritionists and alternative therapists have been on the back foot, and have tried to defend the antioxidants. But their task was made even tougher last week when the prestigious Cochrane Collaborative released a meta-analysis that suggested that antioxidants may even shorten our life.But the researchers, led by Isabelle Bairati from the Quebec Research Centre, who published the 2005 study, have re-analysed their original data, and have discovered they got it wrong. The only people in the study who were seeing their cancer return were smokers who refused to kick the habit while they were receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy.Strangely, not a single newspaper has run with the story.(Source: International Journal of Cancer, 2008; 122: 1679-83).

http://www.wddty.com/antioxidants-and-cancer-researcher-admits-she-got-it-wrong.html#

October 30, 2009

This was never a good study to start with. The sloppy study was completed with a sloppy analysis. This is common when researchers are given grants to study things they know little about and are encouraged to find a negative result regarding the topic.

Synthetic beta-carotene, vitamins derived from "unusual sources" (like animal fats), and synthetic fractions of vitamin E have never been able to produce strong positive results so they are frequently used to prove that supplements are of little value.

Meta-analyses also hand-pick studies where the statistics are manipullated to reach a pre-determined conclusion. When a recent study seems to prove the opposite of multiple previous studies, ignore it and the hype that surrounds it claiming that it is the "latest and greatest" study.

Except for eight or ten specific and mostly rare cancers, chemotherapy has been a dismal failure albeit a big money maker for oncologists and charities - the goose that lays golden eggs that provide no benefit to the patient. Those who survive chemotherapy frequently use complementary natural treatments and they do not tell their doctors. Doctors willingly accept the credit for the success.

Clare McConville-Harris GOOGLE <theclaremcharris Antioxidants and Cancer: Researcher admits she got it wrong"Heath and healing" Thursday, October 29, 2009, 4:15 PM

Antioxidants and Cancer: Researcher admits she got it wrong

24 April 2008

It was news when it was first revealed three years ago â€“ and it was news again last week: antioxidant vitamins can speed up the development of cancer. But the researcher who first published the study has now admitted that she got it wrong.The original study â€“ which made headlines around the world â€“ found that cancer patients who took either vitamin A (beta-carotene) or E (alpha tocopherol) supplements were 40 per cent more likely to suffer a recurrence of their cancer than those who didnâ€™t take any supplements.Ever since, nutritionists and alternative therapists have been on the back foot, and have tried to defend the antioxidants. But their task was made even tougher last week when the prestigious Cochrane Collaborative released a meta-analysis that suggested that antioxidants may even shorten our

life.But the researchers, led by Isabelle Bairati from the Quebec Research Centre, who published the 2005 study, have re-analysed their original data, and have discovered they got it wrong. The only people in the study who were seeing their cancer return were smokers who refused to kick the habit while they were receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy.Strangely, not a single newspaper has run with the story.(Source: International Journal of Cancer, 2008; 122: 1679-83).

http://www.wddty.com/antioxidants-and-cancer-researcher-admits-she-got-it-wrong.html#