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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Does beta-carotene reduce cancer risk?

    Related Topics
    Bowel Cancer Cancer
    • 2 answers
    • Bowel Cancer Australia
    • Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith
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  • Bowel Cancer Australia

    Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care for everyone affected by bowel cancer. We … View Profile

    Thank you for your question about antioxidants and bowel cancer.

    For further information on Diet & Nutrition and bowel cancer please visit the Be Aware: Prevention page on the Bowel Cancer Australia website.

    Kind Regards,
    The team at Bowel Cancer Australia
    www.bowelcanceraustralia.org

    Please Note: The information provided by Bowel Cancer Australia’s Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory Services is intended for Australian residents as a reference guide only.  It is not a substitute for independent professional advice and is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or disorder.
     
    If you believe your symptoms are consistent with those of bowel cancer or a digestive illness, please consult your doctor.
     
    Bowel Cancer Australia, its directors, officers or medical professionals shall not be liable to any person, company or any other body for any loss, direct or indirect or consequential on whatsoever account for any omission or negligent misstatement.

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  • Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith

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    My research interests include immunology and the mechanisms of amyloid formation. The latter has implications for people who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease … View Profile

    A Cochrane meta -analysis of 78 clinical trials, including about 300000 subjects concluded that:

    "The increased risk of mortality was associated with beta-carotene and possibly vitamin E and vitamin A, but was not associated with the use of vitamin C or selenium. The current evidence does not support the use of antioxidant supplements in the general population or in patients with various diseases.“

    This means that dietary supplementation with beta-carotene and maybe other antioxidants has no beneficial effect and may make things worse - ”     increased risk of mortality".

    See:     http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD007176/antioxidant-supplements-for-prevention-of-mortality-in-healthy-participants-and-patients-with-various-diseases



     

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