Vitamins 'useless' in fight against diseases: study
Last Updated Fri Jul 5 19:49:26 2002
OXFORD, ENGLAND - Daily doses of vitamins do nothing to guard against diseases, according to a new study.



The report, published in the journal The Lancet, says people who are at high risk of getting heart disease, cancer or other ailments are better off eating fresh fruit and vegetables to protect themselves.


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Jane Armitage, a researcher at the University of Oxford, said the results of the five-year study were "disappointing."



The study required participants to take high doses of vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene.


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The vitamins are antioxidants which are thought to help the body defend against cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and other diseases of aging. Antioxidants curb oxidation in the body, preventing cell and tissue damage.
No conclusions about vitamin effect on healthy people

Researchers followed 20,000 people aged 40 to 80 as part of a larger Heart Protection Study.

Three types of people were recruited: those who had little risk of heart disease, those at high risk and those who had a past history of it. They were required to check in at three to six-month intervals.


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The study found no benefit in people who had a high risk of getting certain diseases. However, it did not draw conclusions about the effects on healthy people.
Armitage says there's a possibility that other vitamins could be beneficial.

According to Health Canada, more than half of Canadians use supplements — vitamins, natural remedies and homeopathic methods. In Canada, The Natural Health Products Directorate was created in 1997 to regulate the industry.


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Rory Collins

Co-researcher Rory Collins says vitamins are a "waste of time," adding that taking vitamins is a safe but useless action.


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Collins says the vitamins did nothing to fend off the development of cataracts or prevent the onset of osteoporosis.

The vitamin industry disagrees with the conclusions.


Ahmed Hassam


"There are lots of studies over the years which show that you can reduce chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer by insuring there's enough vitamin C in the diet," said Dr. Ahmed Hassam, Managing Director of Quest Vitamins in Britain.

The study was funded by pharmaceutical giant Merck, Roche Vitamins, the UK Medical Research Council and the British Health Foundation.


Written by CBC News Online staff


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