July 9, 2003 – It’s proven: Eating five fruits and vegetables a day does help prevent cancer.
This is the conclusion reached by French researchers, after having followed more than 13,000 subjects for more than eight years, within the framework of the Su.Vi.Max study (for vitamin and mineral supplement).
Throughout this period, participants took either a placebo or a pill each day containing 6 mg of beta-carotene, 120 mg of vitamin C, 30 mg of vitamin E, 100 mg of selenium and 20 mg of zinc, namely the equivalent of an adequate daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
Participants were also closely followed. Each month, they answered a questionnaire to describe their state of health. Every two months, they recorded the food consumed each day, the quantities ingested as well as the cooking methods. And every year, they underwent a full checkup.
The results are fascinating. In men, the risk of developing cancer from all forms of the disease was reduced by 31% in those who took the vitamin and mineral supplement. No benefit was seen in women, but researchers believe this is mainly due to the fact that they ate a healthier diet than men and therefore were already enjoying the protective effects of fruits and vegetables.
It also highlights the fact that people who already eat a balanced diet do not need dietary supplements, and these can even be dangerous if they lead to an overdose of certain substances.
The researchers finally emphasize that they used a pill for their study only to be able to know exactly what was consumed by their subjects, and not to promote the taking of supplements or a “miracle pill”. Quite the contrary, they say: if people turn away from fruits and vegetables in favor of supplements, they risk starting to eat more sugary and fatty products that have adverse health effects.
The results of this study have not been published.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
From Le Devoir and QuotiMed; June 23 and 25, 2003.
