NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study: Multivitamin Use and Risk of Prostate Cancer
Summary
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? If so, when does the potential risk outweigh the benefit?
When it comes to multivitamin use and the risk of prostate cancer – the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American men and the third largest cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. – researchers have come across a potential relationship that may be important for the millions of men currently taking vitamin supplements with the hope of enhancing their health and preventing illness.
A recent study of multivitamin consumption and nutritional habits among 295,344 men aged 50-71 years in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study finds that:
- Regular consumption of multivitamin products (7 per week) does not appear to be associated with increased risk for early or localized prostate cancer (the kind most frequently curable or at least controllable).
- High consumption of multivitamins (more than 7 per week) may be associated with a 30% increase in risk of advanced cancer.
Study participants, who were cancer-free when they enrolled in the study in 1995-96, were asked to provide researchers with information about their usual diet, use of multivitamins, demographic factors and health behaviors. During five years of follow-up, 10,241 participants were diagnosed with incident prostate cancer, including 8,765 localized and 1,476 advanced/fatal cases.
Three types of multivitamins were included in the study:
- Stress-tab (also known as stress formula)
- Therapeutic or theragran
- One-a-day
Participants were asked to report frequency of use for each type of vitamin, as well as for single supplements, such as vitamin A, B-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and calcium:
- Never
- Less than once a week
- One to three times a week
- Four to six times a week
- Every day
Study participants were selected from 3.5 million AARP members, residing in California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania or in the Atlanta, GA or Detroit, MI metro areas.
Bottom line: Some vitamin and nutritional supplements may be good for most men, but too much of a good thing may be risky.
View the abstract or visit the study website to learn more about the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.
Further information about the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study may also be obtained by contacting Nancy Wood of AARP at media@aarp.org or 202-434-2583.
