Shock study finds vitamins C and E ‘FUEL the growth of lung cancer tumours’
POPULAR over-the-counter supplements could fuel the growth of some cancerous tumours, experts warn.
Taking vitamins C and E pills may cause lung cancers to grow bigger and spread.
Swedish scientists stressed people with any form of cancer should avoid altering their diet off the back of the new research.
But they said, taking supplements on top of a healthy diet rich in vitamin C and E, could encourage the disease to spread.
The study, published in , saw scientists give mice with cancer additional vitamins, which they already received in their diet.
The researchers found the higher the level of vitamins in a mouse's system, the more new blood vessels formed within the tumours - something which could eventually fuel the growth and spread of the disease.
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Author, Dr Martin Bergö at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said: “Today in society, you have a lot of people who eat healthily, they have some supplements, and then they may have a ginger shot and a smoothie.
“If you do all that, you could end up with the levels of doses that we’re talking about.”
Dr Martin said that vitamins were still very important to human health.
“If you took away all the antioxidants in food, you would get sick for a range of reasons, such as vitamin deficiencies, and this would influence the cancer," he told the .
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"We’re focusing on increased [supplemented] doses above the required levels."
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
Vitamin C is mainly found in fruit and vegetables such as lemons, peppers, strawberries, blackcurrants, broccoli and potatoes.
It works by protecting cells, maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage and promotes wound healing.
According to the NHS, adults aged 19 to 64 need 40mg of vitamin C a day.
You should be able to get all the vitamin C you need from your daily diet.
Lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy.
Vitamin E is a wide variety of foods, such as plant oils, nuts and seeds and cereals.
It helps maintain healthy skin and eyes, and boosts the body's immune system.
Women require 3mg per day while men need 4mg.
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You should be able to get all the vitamin E you need from your diet.
Any vitamin E your body does not need is stored for future use, this means you do not need it in your diet every day.