Two recent studies have cast a pall over the use of some common vitamin supplements

The first was a follow-up to a study published in JAMA in 2008, in which researchers found that taking vitamin E increases relative prostate cancer risk 17% over placebo. The dose used was the most common: 400 IU daily. Interestingly, the initial study was trying to support smaller studies that showed that vitamin E could help prevent prostate cancer. The authors could find no apparent biological explanation for the increased risk. It was noted that taking selenium added to the risk.

The second, published in the Oct, 2011 Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that taking multivitamins, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron, magnesioum, zinc or copper was associated with a higher risk for total mortality. Multivitamins were associated with a 2.4% absolute increase and the others ranged between 3%-6%. Copper was associated with an 18% increase. All other supplements were not seen to have a higher risk of death and calcium decreased risk.

COMMENT: Regarding vitamin E, you should realize that the absolute risk translates to only 1 additional cancer per 1000 people. However, vitamin E is a very common supplement yet studies have shown it to be beneficial in very few medical conditions. Most people have adequate amounts of vitamin E and supplements simply overload the body.

The same can be true for other vitamins and supplements. If you have a good balanced diet, you should not require additional supplementation.You should take high dose supplements only if indicated for your particular medical condition (see Treatment Guide), or if you do not eat an appropriate diet. Understand also that blood levels of many of these vitamins and minerals can be measured and thus you can suppplement if your levels are low, which is a definite indication.