Antioxidants including vitamin E can promote lung cancer: study
A decades-old medical mystery - why antioxidants such as vitamin E and beta carotene seemed to accelerate the growth of early lung tumors in high-risk populations such as smokers, rather than protect them from cancer, as theory suggests - may have been solved, according to research published on Wednesday.
In essence, "antioxidants allow cancer cells to escape cells' own defense system" against tumors, biologist Per Lindahl of Sweden's University of Gothenburg and a co-author of the study told reporters. That lets existing tumors, even those too small to be detected, proliferate uncontrollably.
The findings imply that "taking extra antioxidants might be harmful and could speed up the growth of (any) tumors," said biologist and co-author Martin Bergo of Gothenburg, adding, "If I had a patient with lung cancer, I would not recommend they take an antioxidant."
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, did not examine whether antioxidants can also initiate lung cancer, rather than accelerate the growth of existing tumors. Nor did it examine whole foods naturally high in antioxidants. But it adds to a growing pile of research challenging the health benefits of taking vitamin supplements except in cases of malnutrition.
http://news.yahoo.com/antioxidants-including-vitamin-e-promote-lung-cancer-study-190119863--finance.html
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Response to tridim (Reply #1)
"One concern about the new study is that the mice received doses of vitamin E at least four times, and as much as 50 times, Americans' recommended daily intake, noted Duffy MacKay of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the supplement industry trade group.
Government data show that 90 percent of Americans have diets that contain less than the recommended intake of vitamin E, he said, calling the Swedish study "very interesting and hypothesis-generating," but not one that should change behavior."
Wow, who could have guessed giving a rat 50 times the normal level of vitamin E would have harmful side effects? 
Apparently my daily green smoothie is a glass of instant death.
