Multis, C & E, Folate OK for Lungs

SAN FRANCISCOMultivitamins, vitamins C and E, and folate neither decreased nor increased the risk of lung cancer, according to findings presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference (May, 2007).
The 77,738 men and women (aged 50 to 76) enrolled in the Vitamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) study, filled out an extensive questionnaire on their vitamin intake over the previous 10 years, including the quantities of each supplement taken. The researchers then investigated how many of these men and women had lung cancer (using a government cancer registry); and found 393 cases of lung cancer. In adjusting for such risk factors as smoking, age, sex, cancer history, other lung disease and history of lung cancer, researchers found no statistically significant relationships between different types of supplements and lung cancer.
The 1996 CARET study, which looked into the effects of beta-carotene and retinol (vitamin A), was halted after the supplements were found to increase lung cancer risk, particularly among smokers. That study, and others, encouraged researchers to look more deeply into the relationship between supplements and lung cancer, said Chris Slatore, M.D., a researcher in the study.

But the information in the current study is misleading said Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Natural Products Association (NPA).
There are several questions that need to be answered in regard to this study, said Fabricant. First, cancer-free subjects may be taking supplements for very different reasons than cancer survivors. Secondly, as with any retrospective cohort study based on a questionnaire, there is no way to really ensure the survey data really reflects the actual patterns of use. Lastly, there are obviously other significant differences between the case and control populations that will not be addressed in a questionnaire that may attribute additional risk for incidence of chronic disease, he said. Drawing a conclusion on chronic disease without including all data available can be misleading to the public, especially considering the potential protective benefit nutrients may have on chronic disease and other forms of cancer" said Fabricant.

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