Blog 8: Multivitamins May Help Prevent Cancer (Lindsay Chase)

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=164110


According to new research it shows that multivitamins may help prevent cancer if taken over years. The study only pertains to middle-aged men and older, and has not yet shown results for women and younger men. It was mentioned that the main reason for taking multivitamins is to prevent nutritional deficiency. It was proved that in men over 50 the risk for cancer could be reduced. All men in the research were apart of the Physicians Health Study. The study was to see the long-term effects of taking multivitamins and its effects on diseases, including cancer. In the start of the study there were 15,000 men at age fifty. Half of them were taking Centrum Silver and the other half were taking only a placebo pill. No one in the study had cancer but around 1,000 had a history of cancer in their family. Later on their were more men with cancer in the placebo group than the group taking the multivitamin. Mostly half of the cancers reported in both groups were prostrate cancer, which is common of men at that age. During the study there was more screenings for prostrate cancer and all the cancers reported were early and had a very high survival rate. The researchers split health risks such as smoking into separate groups. There was an 8% reduction on all other cancers besides prostrate. Other studies done on high amounts of vitamins and their effects on cancer showed different results and some even showed that it caused harm. Some vitamin combinations can help prevent cancer because it is similar to plant-based diet. A major benefit from conducting this research was that it shows how multivitamins can prevent cancer potentially. Cancer is not limited to just the United States so this research can potentially help everyone around the world. Different cancers are more common in different parts of the world.