Page 63
The Willner Window Product Reference Catalog, Jan-Feb, 2013
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the nutritional supplement professionals
DaVinci Labs
taking a multivitamin supplement such a
threat?
Those who are so concerned that we might
rely on nutritional supplements, rather than a
healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, act
as if the role of diet is somehow “proven”
and the role of supplements is not. Is this
true? Perhaps not. Here is an excerpt from
the actual study, Multivitamins in the
Prevention of Cancer in Men: The Physicians'
Health Study II Randomized Controlled Trial,
JAMA. 2012;():1-10.
doi:10.1001/jama.2012.14641.
“Multivitamins are the most common
dietary supplement, regularly taken by at
least one-third of US adults. The traditional
role of a daily multivitamin is to prevent
nutritional deficiency. The combination of
essential vitamins and minerals contained in
multivitamins may mirror healthier dietary
patterns such as fruit and vegetable intake,
which have been modestly and inversely
associated with cancer risk in some,3 but not
all, 4,5 epidemiologic studies.” [emphasis is
mine]
Clearly, it seems, the evidence for fruit and
vegetable intake is not “proven” either. There
are those two references: 4. Löf M, Sandin S,
Lagiou P, Trichopoulos D, Adami HO,
Weiderpass E. Fruit and vegetable intake and
risk of cancer in the Swedish women's
lifestyle and health cohort. Cancer Causes
Control. 2011;22(2):283-289. 5. Hung HC,
Joshipura KJ, Jiang R, et al. Fruit and veg-
etable intake and risk of major chronic dis-
ease. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96(21):1577-
1584
Getting back to the study, “The Physicians'
Health Study II is the first clinical trial to test
the affects of multivitamins on a major dis-
ease such as cancer," said lead author J.
Michael Gaziano, MD, chief of the Division
of Aging at Brigham and Women's Hospital
and an investigator at VA Boston. "Despite
the fact that more than one-third of
Americans take multivitamins, their long-term
effects were unknown until now."
“Researchers had nearly 15,000 men over
the age of 50 take either a multivitamin or a
placebo every day for more than 10 years.
The men self-reported a cancer diagnosis,
and researchers confirmed the diagnosis
through medical records. Researchers found
the group taking a daily multivitamin had an
8 percent reduction in total cancer compared
with the group taking the placebo. They also
found a multivitamin was associated with an
apparent reduction in cancer deaths.
“Study co-author Howard D. Sesso, ScD,
an associate epidemiologist in the Division of
Preventive Medicine at Brigham and
Women's Hospital said, "Many studies have
suggested that eating a nutritious diet may
reduce a man's risk of developing cancer.
Now we know that taking a daily multivita-
min, in addition to addressing vitamin and
mineral deficiencies, may also be considered
in the prevention of cancer in middle-aged
and older men."
“Researchers point out that it is not clear
which specific vitamins or minerals in a mul-
tivitamin may be responsible for the reduc-
tion in cancer risk. Also, it is not known if the
results can extend to women or to men
younger than the age of 50. Researchers plan
to follow up with study participants to deter-
mine the affect of a daily multivitamin on
cancer over an even longer period of time.
“A similar study is examining the affect of
daily multivitamin use on cardiovascular dis-
ease risk. Results of that study will be
announced at the American Heart
Association Scientific Sessions in early
November.” (As reported in ScienceDaily,
Oct. 17, 2012)
Don Goldberg
This article originally appeared on Don
Goldberg’s blog, www.dongoldberg.com. If
you have questions or comments about nutri-
tional supplements, please post them on the
“Ask a question; Suggest a topic” page.
www.dongoldberg.com
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. . . continued from page 36
“Researchers had nearly 15,000 men over
the age of 50 take either a multivitamin or
a placebo every day for more than 10
years. The men self-reported a cancer diag-
nosis, and researchers confirmed the diag-
nosis through medical records. Researchers
found the group taking a daily multivitamin
had an 8 percent reduction in total cancer
compared with the group taking the place-
bo. They also found a multivitamin was
associated with an apparent reduction in
cancer deaths.