News
Omega-3 fatty acids may protect against irregular heartbeat
30 March 2012
Increased blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation in elderly by about 25%, suggests a new US study.
10 December 2009
Antioxidant supplements may prevent the development of new colon polyps in people with a history of colorectal tumors, says a new study.
In the randomized controlled trial, 411 participants received either placebo or an antioxidant supplement providing daily doses of 200 micrograms of selenomethionnine, 30 milligrams of zinc, 6,000 IU of vitamin A, 180 milligrams of vitamin C, and 30 milligrams of vitamin E (1). All the participants had already undergone surgery to remove one or more benign colorectal tumors (adenomatous polyps) that, in time, could progress to cancer. At the end of the study people in the antioxidant group experienced a 40 percent reduction in the incidence of new polyps of the large bowel. The benefit observed after the conclusion of the trial persisted through 13 years of follow up.
The study represents another step on the ladder of supporting the potential anti-cancer effects of antioxidant supplements and selenium. While the science may be lacking for colon health, a greater body of science exists for prostate health. A number of studies have reported that the nutrients, alone or in combination, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Despite great promise over vitamin E and selenium, recent results from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) reported no significant differences between any of the groups in relation to prostate cancer risk (2). However, experts criticized that given positive results from previous clinical trials and epidemiological studies, the design of SELECT, including the supplements used, may have undermined the results.
30 March 2012
Increased blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation in elderly by about 25%, suggests a new US study.
15 January 2010
Daily supplements combining vitamin D and calcium may protect everyone from fracture, regardless of age or gender, says a new study.
3 August 2012
High consumption of vitamin E, either by dietary means or from supplement use, may lower the risk of liver cancer according to a new study from China.