Vitamin E and C Pills Don't Prevent Cancer

Last week we learned that a study showed supplements of vitamins E and C don't prevent cardiac events.

Now, researchers say they've analyzed the same data and determined that taking vitamin E and C supplements don't lower cancer risk either, according to WedMD.

The Physicians Health Study II included 14,600 male doctors aged 50 and older in the US. The doctors were assigned to take supplements of either vitamin C, vitamin E or a placebo every other day.

At the end of the study, cancer rates were similar among doctors who took the supplements and those who took the placebo.

The article points out that these findings apply only to vitamin supplements, and not foods.

Dr. J. Michael Gaziano, who worked on the study, said in the article: "Individual vitamin supplements such as vitamin E and C do not appear to provide the same potential advantages as vitamins included as part of a healthy, balanced diet."

To do your part, check out our articles on which foods contain the most vitamin E and vitamin C. (Also check out these foods with iodine.)

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