It may be the most abstruse study outcome than ever that taking a high dose of vitamin E can lead to prostate cancer in healthy man, published study results published in Journal of the American Medical Association.
High dose of vitamin E can increase the risk of prostate cancer, study says
According to the latest study of more than 35,000 men who are randomly assigned to take a 400-unit capsule of vitamin E every day for about five years , 17 percent more likely to get prostate cancer than those given dummy pills. That dose, common in over-the-counter supplements, is almost 20 times higher than the recommended adult amount, which is about 23 units daily.
The results mean for every 1,000 men who took vitamin E, there were 11 additional cases of prostate cancer, compared with men given dummy pills.
The powerful antioxidant in vitamin is hoped to be capable of restrict the cancer development. The findings, however, showed the opposite conclusion that high doses of Vitamin E might pill up the prostate cancer risk.
“Until you actually run studies like the study we ran, until you run those studies you don’t know, and to assume that something can’t hurt you and that it might help may not be the right assumption.” said Dr. Ian Thompson of San Antonio’s Cancer Therapy and Research Center.
The results of this study is considered to be timely important since currently there are many men over 60 take vitamin E supplements.
“If you have normal levels, the vitamin is probably of no benefit, and if you take too much, you can be harmed” (Dr. Eric Klein of the Cleveland Clinic).
There should be a global warning that too much use of vitamins has not been proven to be beneficial and may be the opposite. That is the sensible reason for men should have a serious conversation with their doctors about whether taking vitamin E supplements is a good idea.
Last but not least, whether high dose of vitamin E and other vitamin supplements are harmful or not – that still depends on further study to make a clearest conclusion.