Three large studies show antioxidants cut cancer rates and death from cancer
Scientists in France have recently finished a major 7-year study involving 13,000 men and women aged 35-60. Called the Su Vi Max study, half received a supplement, whilst half a placebo. The supplement in question was a mixture of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, selenium and zinc.
For both groups cancer deaths fell by 37%
The risk of men getting cancer fell by 31% (there was little difference for the female sample and scientists concluded this was because women in France were felt to have much healthier diets).
However, for both groups cancer deaths fell by 37%.
It is not just the size of the protection afforded that is interesting but the speed at which they work. icon has continually stated the view that at the moment people are diagnosed with cancer, the great majority are both nutritionally deficient, and nutritionally toxic (from too much sodium, for example).
The French figures represent the truth for a modern Western culture.
A previous large scale study, the American China Study taking 38,000 Chinese across the five years to 1993, produced "only" 13% less cancers in a group controlled research trial with people on selenium, beta-carotene and vitamin E supplementation.
A third study of people taking at least 4 multivitamin and mineral supplements per week during the 1970s and 80s saw a fall in colon cancer by 40 per cent over the following 30 years. The research involved over 170,000 people.
Synthetic vs Natural
We repeatedly warn readers that the High Street antioxidants are not in the same form or concentration as those of 20 years ago. Nor are they as good as the real thing. A study covered in icons Cancer Watch comparing orange juice to the High Street synthetic vitamin C showed the orange juice providing antioxidant benefits for almost 36 hours whilst the synthetic vitamun C provided no benefit at any period of measurementt!
The reason given was that High Street vitamin C is almost always synthetic AND contains no supporting bioflavenoids, co-vitamins that can support its action. But then High Street Vitamin E is most usually synthetic and contains only one of the eight variants naturally found in foods (alpha - tocopherol). Beta-carotene is equally likely to be synthetic and sold in just one of the two naturally occuring forms (cis- or trans-).
Not surprisingly, eminent Professors have been in the media urging caution on the overuse of these High Street supplements. We regard these High Street supplements as little more than inferior copies of the real thing - rather like fake Gucci Handbags bought from Thailand. Do you really expect them to be as good as the real thing?
We suggest readers look at the Natural Selection Shop attached to this web site, click here. Total E is available - containing all 8 natural variants of vitamin E as well as most of the other vitamins plus chlorella which represents a source of natural beta-carotene at 30 times the concentrations found in carrots.
It should be noted that the study of antioxidants is still in its infancy. In the USA, for example, there is excitement over the benefits of Curcumin (turmeric) as a cancer-fighting antioxidant and many natural herbs are now being shown to have significant anti-cancer properties.