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Antioxidant supplements for preventing gastrointestinal cancers
G Bjelakovic1, D Nikolova, R G Simonetti
1Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group, Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Dept. 7102, H:S Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. g.bjelakovic@ctu.rh.dk
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|October 21, 2004
Summary
Antioxidant supplements do not prevent gastrointestinal cancers and may increase overall mortality. Further research is needed to explore selenium
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Oxidative stress is implicated in gastrointestinal cancer development.
- Evidence on antioxidant supplements for gastrointestinal cancer prevention is conflicting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antioxidant supplements in preventing gastrointestinal cancers.
- To assess both beneficial and harmful effects of these supplements.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Searched multiple databases including Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, SCI-EXPANDED, and Chinese Biomedical Database.
- Included trials comparing antioxidant supplements to placebo/no intervention for gastrointestinal cancer incidence.
Main Results:
- 14 randomized trials (170,525 participants) assessed beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E, and selenium.
- Antioxidant supplementation did not significantly reduce gastrointestinal cancer incidence.
- High-quality trials indicated antioxidant supplements significantly increased overall mortality, particularly combinations involving beta-carotene.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support the use of antioxidant supplements for gastrointestinal cancer prevention.
- Antioxidant supplements appear to increase overall mortality.
- Further rigorous trials are warranted to investigate the potential preventive role of selenium in gastrointestinal cancers.