Vit E supplements and lung cancer

Vitamin E can increase the risk of developing lung cancer according to a study published in the March issue of the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The Washington State Vitamins and Lifestyle study involved data on 77,126 men and women between the ages 50 and 76 from the , spanning over four years. The surprising raised risk level equaled seven percent for every 100 mg a day of Vitamin E supplement taken.

“In contrast to the often assumed benefits or at least lack of harm, supplemental vitamin E was associated with a small increased risk of lung cancer,” according to Dr. Christopher G. Slatore, M.D., of the University of Washington in Seattle.

This study may strengthen the notion that nothing beats nutrients from real fruits and vegetables. The use of vitamin supplements as fruit and vegetable substitutes has long been controversial due to the fact that these supplements contain not only vitamins, but also phytochemical compounds and other components. “Future studies may focus on other components of fruits and vegetables that may explain the decreased risk [of cancer] that has been associated with fruits and vegetables,” said Dr. Slatore.