USPTF Updates Recommendations on Supplements to Prevent Cancer

The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published an updated recommendation from the USTPF on using vitamins and supplements to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. The study concluded that beta carotene and vitamin E were not beneficial in the prevention of heart disease and cancer.  

The CDC stated that between 2017 and 2018, 57.6% of adults (excluding anyone under 20) in the United States had taken some sort of dietary supplement.  

According to the NIH, the most common supplement use is to integrate more nutrients that patients are not getting in their daily diet.  

The recommendation statement highlights its pertinence. In the US, cancer and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of death. In 2020, cancer and heart disease caused 1,299,312 deaths.  

“Inflammation and oxidative stress have been shown to have a role in both cardiovascular disease and cancer, and dietary supplements may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects,” starts the recommendation. 

The first conclusion the study came to was that beta carotene was ineffective in preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer. The University of Rochester Medical Center defines beta carotene as a provitamin used to make vitamin A.  

Vitamin A is used in reproductive processes and is necessary for the immune system. Typically, people can consume enough beta carotene in their diet by eating dark green, red, or orange fruits and vegetables. Previous research had suggested that beta carotene could prevent heart disease and cancer.  

This recommendation alters that suggestion by stating that the potential drawbacks of beta carotene outweigh the underdeveloped benefits.  

Furthermore, they found that vitamin E did not affect cardiovascular outcomes in a significant manner. There were no significant differences in mortality rates due to cardiovascular disease or cancer in patients that took vitamin E supplements.  

Several other vitamins were also looked at, but no direct or significant conclusions could be made on their involvement in preventing cardiovascular or cancer illnesses.  

Dietary supplements have been criticized in the past for lack of rigorous regulation.  

A 2015 article stated that “multiple challenges in regulatory enforcement have significant public health consequences, including inadequate evaluation of safety, insufficient requirements for efficacy, minimal surveillance for unsubstantiated labeling and marketing claims, poor quality assurance and control, and gaps in reporting of adverse events in the context of a post-market regulatory framework.” 

The USPTF recommendation highlights multiple gaps in the research on vitamins and supplements. Further research on this topic is essential before any formal advice can be given on additional vitamins.