Carotenoid supplemelinked to higher risk of lung cancer

[RandyW]

Carotenoid supplemelinked to higher risk of lung cancer

2009-04-03 02:21:16 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com - Health News Mesothelioma News News)

Research shows high-dose beta-carotene supplements increase the lung cancer rates in high-risk individuals

Albuquerque, New Mexico (CaymanMama.com) – New findings in lung cancer research shows that individuals who take above the recommended dose of carotenoid supplements in efforts to avoid getting sick, may in fact be doing more harm than good.

Research indicates that the long-term, higher dosage use of beta-carotene, retinol, and lutein supplements over the amount in multivitamins, increases the risk for lung cancer, specifically in smokers and former smokers, according to investigators from the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) study.

According to the report published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, “High-dose beta-carotene supplements increase the lung cancer rates in high-risk individuals, even though carotenoids from dietary sources tend to lower risk. Whether effects are similar in the general population is unclear.”

Dr. Jessie A. Satia and her team used data taken from 77,126 subjects ages 50 to 76 who completed questionnaires in 2000-2002 regarding their supplement use over the previous ten years.

The study found that each supplement increased the risk of non-small-cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer, with retinol and lutein also having a slight correlation with lung cancer overall.