Study: Vitamins Tied to Prostate Cancer
I saw this article in the Washington Post and thought of our men here. Not sure if this is a danger or not (due to our malabsorption issues), but wouldn't hurt to bring up with a Dr. if you (men!) have a history in the family.
Christina S 
Study: Vitamins Tied to Prostate Cancer
The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 15, 2007; 11:17 PM
WASHINGTON -- There's more worrisome news about vitamins: Taking too many may increase men's risk of dying from prostate cancer.
The study, being published Wednesday, doesn't settle the issue. But it is the biggest yet to suggest high-dose multivitamins may harm the prostate, and the latest chapter in the confusing quest to tell whether taking various vitamins really helps a variety of conditions _ or is a waste of money, or worse.
A new study says taking too many vitamins may increase men's risk of dying from prostate cancer. The study doesn't settle the issue, but it's the biggest yet to suggest high-dose multivitamins may harm the prostate. (AP GRAPHIC) (AP)
Government scientists turned to a study tracking the diet and health of almost 300,000 men. About a third reported taking a daily multivitamin, and 5 percent were heavy users, swallowing the pills more than seven times a week.
Within five years of the study's start, 10,241 men had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Some 1,476 had advanced cancer; 179 died.
Heavy multivitamin users were almost twice as likely to get fatal prostate cancer as men who never took the pills, concludes the study in Wednesday's Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Here's the twist: Overall, the researchers found no link between multivitamin use and early-stage prostate cancer.
The researchers speculate that perhaps high-dose vitamins had little effect until a tumor appeared, and then could spur its growth.
While similar but smaller studies have suggested a link, too, more rigorous research is needed, caution the National Cancer Institute scientists. This newest study involves men who voluntarily took vitamins, and those most at risk _ perhaps because they had a family history of the disease _ may have been more likely to take the pills in hopes of avoiding their fate.
Still, "the findings lend further credence to the possibility of harm associated with increased use of supplements," Dr. Christian Gluud of Copenhagen University Hospital and Dr. Goran Bjelakovic of Serbia's University of Nis wrote in an accompanying editorial.
Study: Vitamins Tied to Prostate Cancer
The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 15, 2007; 11:17 PM
WASHINGTON -- There's more worrisome news about vitamins: Taking too many may increase men's risk of dying from prostate cancer.
The study, being published Wednesday, doesn't settle the issue. But it is the biggest yet to suggest high-dose multivitamins may harm the prostate, and the latest chapter in the confusing quest to tell whether taking various vitamins really helps a variety of conditions _ or is a waste of money, or worse.
A new study says taking too many vitamins may increase men's risk of dying from prostate cancer. The study doesn't settle the issue, but it's the biggest yet to suggest high-dose multivitamins may harm the prostate. (AP GRAPHIC) (AP)
Government scientists turned to a study tracking the diet and health of almost 300,000 men. About a third reported taking a daily multivitamin, and 5 percent were heavy users, swallowing the pills more than seven times a week.
Within five years of the study's start, 10,241 men had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Some 1,476 had advanced cancer; 179 died.
Heavy multivitamin users were almost twice as likely to get fatal prostate cancer as men who never took the pills, concludes the study in Wednesday's Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Here's the twist: Overall, the researchers found no link between multivitamin use and early-stage prostate cancer.
The researchers speculate that perhaps high-dose vitamins had little effect until a tumor appeared, and then could spur its growth.
While similar but smaller studies have suggested a link, too, more rigorous research is needed, caution the National Cancer Institute scientists. This newest study involves men who voluntarily took vitamins, and those most at risk _ perhaps because they had a family history of the disease _ may have been more likely to take the pills in hopes of avoiding their fate.
Still, "the findings lend further credence to the possibility of harm associated with increased use of supplements," Dr. Christian Gluud of Copenhagen University Hospital and Dr. Goran Bjelakovic of Serbia's University of Nis wrote in an accompanying editorial. 
Thank you CS. Most thoughtful of you.
We are all going to die of something and if I died tomorrow, I'd go knowing my WLS extended my life. From 408 last February WLS in Sept 06 to currently 246 in 7 months, from a size 60 pants to a 42 and not being able to et up the stairs to my desk at work to 4 miles at lunchtime, and on and on
Its been a good run. The vitamins I take and most of us take are a proven course that I am sure will be improved more as time goes on and technology improves, but if I get 1-20 years more because of this surgery, I'll die of whatever comes when it my time, and go happy I had more time with my family, my daughters, and my friends.
Thank you for taking the time to post this information. It may keep some of us from the more-is-better American-way of doing things on our own,.. a male trait, fer sure.
Guilty as charged!!
Joe
Most Active
Recent Topics
