BETA CAROTENE: Smokers and Vitamins collide

These are the results of a study performed on supplements of vitamins A and E and Cancer prevention.  These studies and more can be found at the website of the National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov


In order to determine the long-term effects from vitamin supplements in smokers, ATBC researchers followed the participants for an additional eight years after the trial ended. The findings from this follow-up study, published in the July 23, 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, as well as the initial trial results, are summarized in this fact sheet.
1.  What was the purpose and design of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Trial?
     The Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Trial was a cancer prevention trial conducted by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Public Health Institute of Finland from 1985 to 1993. The purpose of the study was to determine whether certain vitamin supplements would prevent lung cancer and other cancers in a group of 29,133 male smokers in Finland. The 50- to 69-year-old participants took a pill daily for five to eight years that contained one of the following: 50 milligrams (mg) alpha-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), 20 mg of beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A), both, or a placebo (inactive pill that looked like the vitamin).
2.  What were the principal findings?
     •  ATBC researchers reported that men who took beta-carotene had an 18 percent increased incidence of lung cancers and an 8 percent increased overall mortality. Vitamin E had no effect on lung cancer incidence or overall mortality. The men taking both supplements had outcomes similar to those taking beta-carotene alone (New England Journal of Medicine 1994;330:1029).
     •  The adverse effects of beta-carotene appeared stronger in men with a relatively modest alcohol intake (more than 11 grams per day; 15 grams of alcohol is equivalent to one drink) and in those smoking at least 20 cigarettes daily (Journal of the National Cancer Institute1996;88:1560).
     •  Participants taking vitamin E had 32 percent fewer cases of prostate cancer and 41 percent fewer deaths from prostate cancer. Death from hemorrhagic stroke (a deficit of blood to the brain due to the rupture of a blood vessel) was also increased by 50 percent in men taking alpha-tocopherol supplements; the increase occurred primarily among men with hypertension. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1998;90:440 and Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2000;20:230).
3.  What were the conclusions and recommendations from the post-trial follow-up?(Journal of American Medical Association 2003;290:476)
     •  The adverse effects from beta-carotene and the beneficial effects from supplementation with alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) largely disappeared during the post-trial follow-up period.
     •  The findings indicate a symmetry in the time course during and after the trial. That is, the time it took for the elevated lung cancer rates and lower prostate cancer rates to occur was similar to the time for these adverse and beneficial effects to disappear.
     •  There were no additional beneficial late effects on cancer or mortality observed after the trial ended.
     •  The results of both the trial and post-trial follow-up of the ATBC Study, in conjunction with results from the CARET Study (beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial) completed in 1996, continue to support the recommendation that beta-carotene supplementation should be avoided by smokers. The possible preventive effects of alpha-tocopherol on prostate cancer require confirmation in other ongoing trials.
     •  Continued follow-up of the participants will provide unique and valuable information on the duration of trial effects and potential late effects of intervention with these antioxidant vitamins. Further follow-up will also contribute to our understanding of the biological mechanisms through which such hemoprevention agents affect carcinogenesis and human cancer risk.

Breast Cancer and Diet

Florida  has one of the highest Breast Cancer rates in the United States, coincidentally it also the lowest soil levels of Selenium as well!  Selenium has been reported to decrease the occurrence of tumors in mice with great success, but a lack of this trace mineral may just cause your body to go crazy for it.
Foods, such as polyunsaturated fats found in corn and other vegetable oils increase the formation of DNA damaging free radicals (free radicals are starved for electrons and thrive in mineral deficient environments).  Women who eat 5 grams of these polyunsaturated fats daily increased their breast cancer risk by 69%! 

But wait there is hope ladies don't be discouraged.  A study released in 1998 involving 61,000 women from all ages found that the daily ingestion of at least 10 grams of  monounsaturated fat (the good kind found in olive oil and canola) about three-fourths of a tablespoon, cuts the risk of breast cancer in half.  Links to large amounts of vitamin C and a diet rich in Selenium have been reported to reduce or possibly reverse the formation of tumors. If your thinking of taking extra measures against breast cancer and you are considering Selenium, make sure you accompany it with the helper vitamins A and E to bolster extra protection.

Vitamin Deficiencies: USDA Stats

The following list highlights the principle vitamins and minerals that were found to be deficient in a recent study conducted with 40,000 Americans.

Calcium: 68% very unsatisfactory results EAT YOUR DAIRY.  This is why levels of osteoporosis and arthritis are so high. 

Iron:  57% this is a weird phenomenon considering our meat consumption is high but our iron is low this could be contributed to the fact that roughly 55% of Americans consume Aspirin regularly which leads to an iron deficiency.

Magnesium:  75% reasons being the body excretes magnesium when stressed i.e. most of America lol

Vitamin A:  50% if you don't know someone with it you have it.  Increase your spinach intake.

Vitamin B12:  34% essential for energy and healthy mental function.  Eat your peanuts.

Vitamin C:  45% If there is any vitamin you do not want to be deficient in it is Vitamin C.  RDA is       listed at 60mg but research proves that levels of 500-1000mg a day are optimum levels.

Niacin: 33%  Niacin shortages lead to depression and large amounts can cure Alcoholism.

Vitamin B6:  80%  Essential for energy and mental clarity shortages have been linked to schizophrenia.

Now these are only the Vitamins and minerals, these statistics are unsatisfactory for the level of luxury that we live in these times.  If we can create ipods and robot dogs and crap we can learn to give our bodies what it needs to survive properly.

Vitamin D and Cancer

Did you know that government agencies (USDA) don't list naturally occurring Vitamin D levels in fish, fish oils, and egg yolks.  Whats the reason you may ask?  Currently the RDA levels for vitamin D is set at
400 IU sounds good right well 1 tbs of Cod liver oil contains 1,360 IU of Vitamin D.   If the USDA were to list these levels for fish and etc, they would have to raise the RDA standards regarding the daily intake of Vitamin D.  Dr. M.F. Holick stated in 2000 that "The Vitamin D levels in the human body should never fall below 3,200 IU and levels below 2000 IU are considered serious deficiency states and will increase your risk of breast and prostate cancer and autoimmune diseases like MS and rheumatoid arthritis.  Currently 30%, 42% and 45% of white, Hispanic, and black elderly were vitamin D deficient.  The Human intestine is lined with vitamin D receptors known as VDR's.  These VDR's are present in the bones and kidneys as well.  When the VDR's are at full absorption of Vitamin D (about 5000 IU) then the body is capable of absorbing 2000% more calcium and other minerals for your body, essentially curing your body of vitamin deficient disorders which account for nearly 80% of hospital visits.