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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3><DIV class=mxb><DIV class=sh>Vitamins 'could shorten lifespan' </DIV></DIV></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><DIV>
<DIV class=cap>Research has produced mixed results</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Taking certain vitamin supplements may adversely affect people's lifespan, researchers have suggested.
Millions worldwide use antioxidant supplements such as vitamins A and E, and beta-carotene.
Looking at dozens of previous research studies, Copenhagen University researchers suggested these appeared to raise, not lower, the risk of death.
A supplements industry expert said the Journal of the American Medical Association study was fatally flawed.
But nutritionists said it reinforced the need to eat a balanced diet, rather than relying on supplements.
While vitamin supplements have been popular for decades, the precise benefits they offer - if any - remain uncertain, despite hundreds of research projects.
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Considering that 10% to 20% of the adult population in Europe and North America may consume the supplements, the public health consequences may be substantial 
<BR clear=all></DIV></DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV>University of Copenhagen research team</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
More recent theories suggest that certain vitamins consumed as part of a healthy diet - and perhaps taken in supplement form - may be able to prevent damage to the body's tissues called 'oxidative stress' by eliminating the molecules called 'free radicals' which are said to cause it.
This damage has been implicated in several major diseases including cancer and heart disease, yet the implication that vitamin supplements might protect people from these illnesses is controversial.
Vitamin overview
The Copenhagen team reviewed more than 815 clinical trials into the benefits of vitamins A, E, and C, alongside beta-carotene and selenium - all commonly-used supplements.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg><DIV><DIV class=mva> How sensible scientists can suggest a single antioxidant supplement can have a major effect where patients already have advanced cardiovascular disease is ridiculous <BR clear=all></DIV></DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV>Dr Ann Walker
Health Supplements Information Service</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
They selected 68 whose methods were more likely to produce an accurate picture of vitamin benefits, then added their results together to form one, large-scale study.
This overview suggested that taking antioxidant supplements neither increased, nor reduced, the risk of death.
However, when the researchers eliminated a further 21 trials which had a slightly higher possibility of producing a skewed result, the picture changed considerably.
While the risk of death was unchanged among
<DIV class=cap>Research has produced mixed results</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Taking certain vitamin supplements may adversely affect people's lifespan, researchers have suggested. Millions worldwide use antioxidant supplements such as vitamins A and E, and beta-carotene.
Looking at dozens of previous research studies, Copenhagen University researchers suggested these appeared to raise, not lower, the risk of death.
A supplements industry expert said the Journal of the American Medical Association study was fatally flawed.
But nutritionists said it reinforced the need to eat a balanced diet, rather than relying on supplements.
While vitamin supplements have been popular for decades, the precise benefits they offer - if any - remain uncertain, despite hundreds of research projects.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5>
</TD><TD class=sibtbg><DIV><DIV class=mva> Considering that 10% to 20% of the adult population in Europe and North America may consume the supplements, the public health consequences may be substantial <BR clear=all></DIV></DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV>University of Copenhagen research team</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>More recent theories suggest that certain vitamins consumed as part of a healthy diet - and perhaps taken in supplement form - may be able to prevent damage to the body's tissues called 'oxidative stress' by eliminating the molecules called 'free radicals' which are said to cause it.
This damage has been implicated in several major diseases including cancer and heart disease, yet the implication that vitamin supplements might protect people from these illnesses is controversial.
Vitamin overview
The Copenhagen team reviewed more than 815 clinical trials into the benefits of vitamins A, E, and C, alongside beta-carotene and selenium - all commonly-used supplements.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5>
</TD><TD class=sibtbg><DIV><DIV class=mva> How sensible scientists can suggest a single antioxidant supplement can have a major effect where patients already have advanced cardiovascular disease is ridiculous <BR clear=all></DIV></DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV>Dr Ann WalkerHealth Supplements Information Service</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
They selected 68 whose methods were more likely to produce an accurate picture of vitamin benefits, then added their results together to form one, large-scale study.
This overview suggested that taking antioxidant supplements neither increased, nor reduced, the risk of death.
However, when the researchers eliminated a further 21 trials which had a slightly higher possibility of producing a skewed result, the picture changed considerably.
While the risk of death was unchanged among