In a person with melanoma, food supplements are not always suitable. Those containing antioxidants can accelerate the formation of metastases.
For people with cancer, it’s best to avoid dietary supplements that contain antioxidants, such as vitamin E or beta-carotene. At least that’s what researchers from the‘University of Gothenburg, in a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
From a clinical trial on mice, they have indeed shown that consuming these supplements accelerated the formation of metastases. The rate of metastases was thus almost twice as high in the mice to which the scientists had given antioxidants.
Cell protection
This is not the first time that a link between antioxidants and cancer development has been highlighted by this team. Already in 2014, she had demonstrated the negative role of these molecules in lung cancer. The mice which had followed a course of vitamins E and food supplements presented more aggressive tumors, or even developed additional tumors. Results also verified in patients with lung cancer.
These findings may be surprising, as antioxidants are also known for their ability to fight free radicals, molecules responsible for the aging of tissues, and the cause of many cancers. The researchers explain that antioxidants certainly protect the body and cells against the development of tumors, but that once these occur, they also assume a protective role with regard to cancer cells.
Creams and lotions
The study therefore underlines the need to review the prescriptions of antioxidants to cancer patients. For researchers, it is also important to continue work on the subject. And antioxidant intake isn’t just about nutrients. Skin creams could have a real part of the responsibility for this phenomenon. The next step, therefore, is to study the impact of cosmetic products containing antioxidants on the development of melanoma.
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