Docs warn on vitamins A and E

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A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association says some popular anti-oxidant supplements may increase the risk of death. A detailed analysis of human studies shows people who take beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E supplements don't live any longer than those who don't take them, WebMD reported. There appeared to be no increased risk of death from taking vitamin C, and a very slight benefit from taking selenium, the report said. The study -- led by Christian Gluud of Copenhagen University Hospital and Goran Bjelakovic of the University of Nis in Serbia -- looked at data from 68 randomized clinical trials conducted since 1990. The researchers found that taking vitamin A supplements increased the risk of death by 16 percent; beta-carotene supplements increased the risk of death by 7 percent; and vitamin E supplements increased the risk of death by 4 percent. "There is no reason to take anything that hasn't been proven beneficial. And these anti-oxidant supplements do not seem beneficial at all," Gluud told WebMD. The researchers said some nutrients "may be harmful at high doses or could interfere with the body's natural defenses," the Washington Post said.