Introduction
It’s no secret that what we eat can have a major impact on our health. But did you know that certain supplements can actually increase your risk of developing cancer? Recent research has found that certain supplements can increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. In this article, we’ll discuss which supplements to avoid and which ones are safe to take. We’ll also provide some tips on how to make healthier food choices to reduce your risk of cancer. So if you’re looking to reduce your cancer risk, read on to find out what you should and shouldn’t be eating.
This Supplement Can Raise Your Cancer Risk, Experts Say — Eat This Not That
Experts are warning that a popular supplement could be raising your risk of cancer. The supplement in question is selenium, which is often taken as a way to boost the immune system and protect against cancer. But a new study has found that taking too much selenium can actually increase your risk of certain types of cancer.
The study, which was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, looked at the effects of selenium on more than 1,000 people. The researchers found that those who took more than 200 micrograms of selenium per day had a higher risk of developing prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers.
The researchers also found that those who took more than 400 micrograms of selenium per day had an even higher risk of developing these types of cancer. They concluded that taking too much selenium could be a risk factor for certain types of cancer.
So what should you do if you’re taking selenium supplements? The researchers recommend that you talk to your doctor about the right amount for you. The recommended daily allowance for selenium is 55 micrograms for adults, so it’s important to make sure you’re not taking too much.
If you’re looking for a way to boost your immune system and protect against cancer, experts recommend eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Eating a balanced diet is the best way to get the nutrients you need to stay healthy and reduce your risk of cancer.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) won’t recommend that taking vitamins and supplements can prevent heart disease and cancer, and will warn that taking one supplement can actually raise cancer and heart disease risk, according to a draft statement posted on its website.
The USPSTF has given most supplements an “I” grade—for insufficient evidence—in terms of preventing cancer and cardiovascular disease. But, citing strong scientific data, the group will recommend against taking beta-carotene supplements.
“The evidence shows there is no benefit to taking vitamin E and that beta-carotene can be harmful because it increases the risk of lung cancer in people already at risk, such as those who smoke, and also increases the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke,” said John Wong, MD, of Tufts Medical Center, in a statement.
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Scientists call for more study
The group’s new review of 78 studies showed that no supplement had a significant effect on cardiovascular health. Data about vitamin D supplementation and cancer mortality was inconsistent.
The researchers said that more study is warranted. “More evidence is needed to understand whether there is heterogeneity across specific populations, or by baseline nutrient level, in the effects of vitamin, mineral, and multivitamin supplementation on cardiovascular disease and cancer outcomes, especially in persons with no known deficiencies and low prevalence of supplement use and in diverse populations,” the study authors wrote.
Based on the latest evidence, the USPSTF does not recommend routine vitamin D deficiency screening for asymptomatic adults. But the group does recommend that women who are planning to or capable of becoming pregnant take folic acid supplements. (Folic acid insufficiency during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects in a fetus’s spinal cord and brain, including spina bifida.)
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Other recent studies reach similar conclusion
The USPSTF’s statement follows a 2019 meta-analysis in which researchers from Johns Hopkins evaluated studies involving 450,000 people, determining that multivitamins don’t lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline, death after a heart attack or stroke, or early death. Their advice: Don’t waste your money on multivitamins; get the vitamins and minerals you need from food.
“Pills are not a shortcut to better health and the prevention of chronic diseases,” said Larry Appel, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, at the time. “Other nutrition recommendations have much stronger evidence of benefits—eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing the amount of saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugar you eat.”
However, those researchers also recommended that women of childbearing age take a folic acid supplement. So be careful—and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.