Antioxidants May Reduce Cancer Incidence in Men

PARIS--Long-term supplementation with a broad spectrum of antioxidants may reduce the incidence of cancer and all-cause mortality in men, according to French researchers. Results of the SU.VI.MAX (Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux Antioxydants) study were published in the Nov. 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine (164, 21:2335-42, 2004) (http://archinte.ama-assn.org).

A total of 13,017 French adults took a placebo or a single daily capsule containing 120 mg ascorbic acid, 30 mg vitamin E, 6 mg beta-carotene, 100 mcg selenium and 20 mg zinc. Median follow-up time was 7.5 years. No major differences were detected between the groups in incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease or all-cause mortality. However, sex-stratified analysis found antioxidant supplementation in men reduced cancer incidence by 31 percent and all-cause mortality by 37 percent.

The researchers concluded supplementation may be effective in men because of their lower baseline status of certain antioxidants, particularly beta-carotene.