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Dietary supplements can increase the cancer tumor risk
Dietary supplements are often offered in pharmacies and health food stores for a lot of money. The benefits, however, are often controversial. Still, many buyers believe they are doing something good. It is critical when dietary supplements even cause serious diseases such as cancer. Thus, an uncontrolled intake of vitamin E and selenium can increase the risk of developing cancer. For this reason, supplemental trace elements should only be taken on medical advice.
Selenium can increase the risk of prostate cancer
Dietary supplements with vitamins and trace elements have been in vogue for years. As research shows, it could also hurt his health enormously. Already six years ago, the US National Cancer Institute caused a stir with the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trail (SELECT) study, which showed that taking Vitamin E did not bring any benefits, but on the contrary, it increases the risk of cancer. No less alarming are the results of a recent follow-up study. Thus, selenium in high doses can increase the risk of prostate cancer. Apparently there are also complex cancer-promoting interactions between vitamin E and selenium.
Dietary supplements do not always have to do our health good. There are also ingredients that can harm us. In addition, serious consequences due to overdose can not be ruled out. (Image: pat_hastings / fotolia.com) Uncontrolled intake is strongly discouraged
"The current study clearly shows us the dangers of uncontrolled intake of vitamin E and selenium. Both are contained in dietary supplements that can be purchased at any supermarket, and in the worst case can lead to the disease of fatal prostate cancer, "warned Kurt Widhalm, president of the Austrian Academic Institute of Nutritional Medicine (ÖAIE). Therefore, the ÖAIE strongly advises against the uncontrolled intake of seemingly harmless dietary supplements. "You should be generally careful with the intake of all supplements for a long time," says Widhalm.
Vitamin and trace element pills are not fundamentally harmful
However, the warning does not mean that vitamin and trace element pills are fundamentally harmful. "It is not a problem if someone takes selenium for heart problems for a few weeks or months." However, Widhalm strongly advises against consuming supplements for prolonged periods without medical supervision due to the sometimes very high concentrations.
The nutritionist emphasized the importance of regularly controlling the intake. "Not everyone takes the substances equally well and not everyone has the same reserves. The effect of supplements should therefore be checked regularly. "He draws a comparison to drugs for hypertension:" Again, the doctor checks whether the funds act as desired or if the dose must be adjusted. "
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Many seniors take too many supplements
A few months ago, the director of the Institute for Epidemiology II at the Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU), Professor Dr. Annette Peters that so far "current and population-based data on the intake of supplements for the elderly" would be largely missing for Europe. Nevertheless, many seniors would swallow too many of these remedies.
54 percent of women and 34 percent of men over the age of 64 would therefore consume additional vitamins, minerals or other additives, for example to prevent vitamin or magnesium deficiency or to protect themselves from diseases. Even though the German Society of Nutrition (DGE) says that especially those in need of care often have a shortage of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E, folic acid and fiber, the nutrient supply of whole grains, vegetables and fruits could be improved. Vitamin E can also be consumed with high-quality oils, for example. (sb, ad)