Vitamin supplements may increase risk of death - The Guardian 16th April 2008

Vitamin supplements taken by millions of people do not increase life expectancy and may raise the risk of a premature death , according to a review of 67 studies with more than 230,000 subjects. The review, by the Cochrane Collaboration which regularly pools data from trials to evaluate drugs and treatments, found supplements vitamin A, vitamin E and beta-carotene are detrimental to health. In 47 trials with 180,938 people and a low risk of bias, the "antioxidant supplements significantly increased mortality", the authors wrote. When the antioxidants were assessed separately and low risk of bias trials were included and selenium excluded, vitamin A was linked to a 16% increased risk of dying, beta-carotene to a 7% increased risk and vitamin E to a 4% increased risk.

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Additional Stories

Vitamin supplements 'do us no good and may be harmful' - The Independent 16th April 2008

Official health warning on risk of vitamin supplements - The Times 16th April 2008

Vitamin pills 'increase risk of early death' - The Telegraph 16th April 2008

Vitamins are no substitute for a healthy diet - The Telegraph 16th April 2008

Can vitamins do you harm? Scientists say supplements may even shorten your life - Daily Mail 16th April 2008