Tag: SU.VI.MAX

Vitamin Pills Prevent Infection

Claus Hancke

January 24, 2005

The increased predisposition to infections in diabetics can be reduced with a daily multivitamin-mineral pill.

Skeptics have doubted that ordinary vitamin pills can strengthen the immune defence. In 1992, the Canadian nutritionist R.K. Chandra did establish that a daily vitamin pill reduced the number of infections in a small group of healthy elderly people by 50%. However, critics questionned his independence and the succeeding year, French scientists could not find any similar effect in an – albeit short-term – study.

The situation is now completely different. An American study has shown that an ordinary vitamin pill almost halves the incidence of infections. The study that lasted nearly a year included 130 trial subjects who were predominantly middle-aged, overweight women; of these women, approximately 1/3 had type II diabetes – also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes. Their lifestyle, however, was not necessarily unhealthy; more than every other woman exercised moderately or intensely.

During the study, half the trial subjects were given placebo (a non-effective tablet) and the other half were given a daily vitamin-mineral tablet. In the placebo group, 73% suffered infection while this was the case for only 43% in the vitamin group.

The diabetics were apparently the ones who benefited most from the vitamin pill as most of the difference between the two groups could be ascribed to them. Indeed, it is well-known that diabetics are more susceptible to infections than other people; 93% of the diabetics in the placebo group suffered infection while this was the case for only 17% of the diabetics in the vitamin group.

The obvious explanation could
be that the diabetics were vitamin-deficient; this would weaken their immune defence, but when given a vitamin pill, their health would be restored. However, the figures do not confirm this theory. It was estimated that approximately 1/3 of all the trial subjects – i.e. both diabetics and non-diabetics – were deficient in the vitamins A, -E, and -C. Therefore, the conclusion must be that not all diabetics had eaten unhealthily.

There is also the question of diabetics perhaps having a particularly large need for vitamins in order to maintain a healthy immune defence. During the trial, they were given a substantial supplement. The vitamin pill used in the trial contains fairly large amounts of the vitamins A, -B, -C, and -D, and it also contains folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin K, chromium, and iodine which are not always present in standard vitamin pills.

Six months ago, the French 7-year SU.VI.MAX study showed that small amounts of antioxidants dramatically reduce mortality and the incidence of cancer in men. The men were given vitamin C and -E plus beta-carotene and selenium in the same dosage as in the American study; however, the Americans were given all the other vitamins and minerals as well.

Around the same time, a study in Tanzania showed that multivitamins significally strengthen the immune

There is reason to believe that, on a long view, a multivitamin pill – preferably a strong one of the kind – will be of benefit to most people. On a short view it is quite certainly a significant advantage to diabetics, men, and HIV positive people in particular.

By: Vitality Council

References:
1) Chandra RK. Effect of vitamin and trace-element supplementation on immune responses and infection in elderly subjects. Lancet 1992;340:1124-7.
2) Chavance M et al. Does multivitamin supplementation prevent infections in healthy elderly subjects ? A controlled trial. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1993;63:11-16.
3) Barringer TA et al. Effect of a multivitamin and mineral supplement on infection and quality of life. Ann Int Med 2003;138:365-71.
4) Hercberg S et al. The SU.VI.Max study. Arch Int Med 2004;164:2335- 2342.

www.thelancet.com
www.annals.org
archinte.ama-assn.org
www.iom.dk

Fruit and vegetable antioxidants could significantly reduce cancer risk

Admin

June 25,  2003

Eating sufficient fruit and vegetables to maintain antioxidant vitamin and mineral levels could reduce the risk of cancer and mortality in men, report researchers from the French health and medical institute Inserm.

An eight-year study found a 30 per cent reduction in cancers and 37 per cent reduction in mortality among men who received a daily antioxidant supplement compared to placebo. The researchers claim that the study, called SU.VI.MAX, is the first randomised trial to show that an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals from fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of cancer.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled study tested the impact of a daily dose of antioxidants on 13000 healthy subjects. The dose included 6mg of beta-carotene, 120mg of vitamin C, 30mg of vitamin E, 100ug of selenium and 20mg of zinc. The 7886 women, aged 35 to 60 years old, and 5141 men, from 45 to 60 years old, were divided into two groups and followed up over an average of 7.5 years.

There was no difference between the two groups concerning heart disease, supporting other studies testing the effects of antioxidants on cardiovascular health, but cancer risk was reduced by 31 per cent among men. This included most cancers, especially digestive, respiratory and skin cancers.

The absence of such effects in women was not due to the different cancers they developed but rather their better state of health at baseline, explained the Inserm researchers.

Again, while risk of death was 37 per cent lower among men receiving the supplements, the same effect was not seen in women. The researchers also found a higher risk of cancer and heart disease among men with the lowest levels of beta-carotene. The lower the level of the nutrient, the higher the risk of disease. The team stressed however that the findings should support a nutritious diet with regular consumption of fruit and vegetables rather than supplements.

Use of antioxidant supplements was necessary to be able to compare to placebo, but they claim that this effect applies equally to nutrients found readily in plant foods. The results back nutrition advice to consume at least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily rather than relying on supplements, claim the researchers.

They add that the observed effect is likely weaker than would be seen from fruit and vegetables, which have additional nutrients not included in the supplement used in the study. Further, they pointed to fears that people taking supplements may eat less fruit and vegetables, calorie sources which often lead to reduction in consumption of fatty and sugary products.

Source: NutraIngredients.com