According to scientists from the University of Copenhagen, vitamins A and E not only do not improve health, but also negatively affect the immune system. The results of their research were published today in .
“Beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E bring closer the moment of natural death,” says one of the researchers from the world-renowned international non-profit organization Cochrane Collaboration.
The essence of the work of the Cochrane Collaboration is to analyze the results of several clinical trials, summarizing them and obtaining the most accurate statistical result. Scientists have studied the results of about two hundred studies related to the effects on the body of beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E and selenium, which is considered the most promising of all the above artificial supplements.
The vitamins studied were previously thought to help prevent damage to body tissues caused by so-called “oxidative stress” – the result of the natural absorption of nutrients by cells, which leads to the formation of free radicals. And free radicals are one of the reasons for the development of cancer and heart disease.
The studies involved more than two hundred thousand people, among whom were both suffering from diseases and taking vitamins in order to prevent them.
As a result, it turned out that vitamin A increases the risk of death by sixteen percent, beta-carotene by seven, and vitamin E by four percent. Vitamin C and selenium have no effect at all and, according to scientists, require further study.
On BBC.
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