[FACT OR FAKE #11] Eating Vitamins Every Day Will Improve My Health
People take vitamins and multivitamins daily because it's considered good for you but do we really know whether or not they are actually beneficial? Food intake is supposed to give us all we need. Recently, Omega-3 fatty acids, derived from fish oils and lauded for their anti-inflammatory properties, were found to increase the risk of high-grade disease by 70%.
By Sadho Ram — 26 Jul 2013, 06:15 PM — Updated about 11 years ago
FACT: Taking omega-3 fish oil supplements may increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 70%
A supplement taken by millions for its health benefits may help to trigger aggressive and lethal prostate cancer, research has shown. Omega-3 fatty acids, derived from fish oils and lauded for their anti-inflammatory properties, were found to increase the risk of high-grade disease by 71%.
Scientists found that those with the highest levels of omega-3 in their blood were 71 per cent more likely to develop fast-growing, hard-to-treat prostate tumours.
Image via dailymail.co.ukTaking omega-3 was also associated with a 44% greater chance of developing low-grade prostate cancer. Overall, the fatty acids raised the risk of all prostate cancers by 43%.
nydailynews.comHigh blood concentrations of all three omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in supplements, EPA, DPA and DHA, were linked to the findings.
foxnews.com
Scientists conducting the study compared blood samples from 834 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and 1,393 participants without the disease.
sky.com
Omega-3 fish oils are one of the most fashionable and popular supplements on the high street. They are said to have a plethora of health benefits, including protection against heart attacks and strokes, staving off arthritis, boosting brain power, and preventing behavioural disorders in children.
One potentially harmful effect was the conversion of omega-3 fatty acids into compounds that can damage cells and DNA, they added. Omega-3 was also thought to contribute to immunosuppression, the dampening down of the immune system.
foxnews.com
FAKE: Foods don't contain enough nutrition, and we need supplements
Nutrition experts contend that all we need is what's typically found in a routine diet. Industry representatives, backed by a fascinating history, argue that foods don't contain enough, and we need supplements. Fortunately, many excellent studies have now resolved the issue.
theatlantic.com
On October 10, 2011, researchers from the University of Minnesota found that women who took supplemental multivitamins died at rates higher than those who didn't.
theatlantic.com
Two days later, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic found that men who took vitamin E had an increased risk of prostate cancer. "It's been a tough week for vitamins," said Carrie Gann of ABC News.
theatlantic.com
Seven previous studies had already shown that vitamins increased the risk of cancer and heart disease and shortened lives. Still, in 2012, more than half of all Americans took some form of vitamin supplements.
theatlantic.com