The new study, appearing in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, said it's still too early to rule out health benefits of vitamin pills adding that antioxidants are more effective when they are consumed in food rather than pills.
According to data provided by Information Resources Inc., which tracks sales, an estimated 80 million to 160 million people take antioxidants in North America and Europe. Out of these, about 10 to 20 percent are adults.
In 2006, Americans spent $2.3 billion on nutritional supplements and vitamins at grocery stores, drug stores and retail outlets. This data does not include Wal-Mart stores. The team of researchers from Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark first analyzed 68 studies involving 232,606 people and found neither good nor bad effect on life span that is linked to taking antioxidants.
According to AP reports, the Cochrane organization is a reputed international network of experts involved in systematic reviews of scientific evidence on health interventions. In a startling discovery, the study actually found a higher risk of death for people taking vitamins: 4 percent for those taking vitamin E, 7 percent for beta carotene and 16 percent for vitamin A.
Dr. Christian Gluud of Copenhagen University Hospital said, "The main message is that prevention by beta carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E cannot be recommended. These three antioxidant supplements may increase mortality."
Many experts feel a person should rely on food as a source of vitamins and minerals rather than pills. People consuming larger amounts of fruits and vegetables are healthier than those deriving their minerals from pills.
