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Article: Beta carotene supplements may carry cancer risk Vitamin might increase chance of lung tumors in smokers, experts warn
- Article from:
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)
- Article date:
- January 19, 1996
CopyrightCopyright 1996 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Beta carotene supplements do not protect Americans against cancer
or heart disease, and might actually increase smokers' risk of
deadly lung tumors, the government declared Thursday.
National Cancer Institute researchers shut down a vitamin study of
18,000 smokers last week, almost two years early, because too many
of those being given high doses of beta carotene were dying.
There were 28% more lung cancers and 17% more deaths among beta
carotene takers than smokers who took dummy pills almost mirroring
a 1994 Finnish study that first raised questions about this
carrot-derived vitamin's safety.
A second U.S. study fed mega-doses of beta carotene to 22,000
doctors for 12 years and found ...