Anti-oxidant supplements and mortality

Many people believe that vitamin supplementation will improve overall health, but many studies show no obvious benefits and some have even shown harm. A recent meta-analysis was performed on 68 randomized trials involving 230,000 participants to try to determine if these vitamins are beneficial. In analysis of the 47 best trials, beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E significantly increased the overall risk of death compared to the participants who took placebo! Vitamin C and selenium had no effect on the overall risk of death.

The increased risk of death in patients taking the anti-oxidant vitamin supplements was small, but our assumptions that all vitamin supplements are beneficial may need to be changed. It is safer and healthier to eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.