Antioxidant Vitamins May Increase Mortality

With the push for "healthy" foods, here is a little reminder of the state of the art in our understanding of what is "healthy."

"The largest analysis of data on antioxidant vitamins ever conducted has shown that beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E probably increase mortality."

Oops.

"Two other antioxidant substances — vitamin C and selenium — had no effect on mortality...

'This is the most comprehensive collection of data on anti-oxidant vitamins ever conducted, and we have shown that on the whole that these agents have no benefit. Indeed, vitamin A, vitamin E and beta-carotene are associated with an increase in mortality at the doses studied. Vitamin A and beta-carotene seem to have a dose-related effect, with mortality increasing as doses increase, whereas vitamin E does not appear to have a dose-related effect, with all doses associated with increased mortality.'"

Whatcha gonna do now?

Go here.