Thursday, October 18, 2012

Take your daily (Pfizer) multivitamin, reduce cancer risk



Bloomberg Businessweek reports that a recent study reveals that “Pfizer Inc.’s (PFE) Centrum Silver multivitamin can reduce a man’s risk of cancer when taken daily.” This finding is counter to previous findings that show such supplements have no beneficial effect and may be harmful.

So who do I believe?

To that point one of the lead study authors, Michael Gaziano, a cardiologist with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the VA Boston Healthcare System, notes that “This is the only trial that’s ever looked at a common multivitamin over a very long period of time.” He also says that “Our findings are somewhat consistent with the dietary findings that say a varied diet, particularly high in fruits and vegetables, show a fairly consistent association with reduced cancer risk.”

Ok, maybe I will wander over to the Centrum Silver section of the vitamin aisle.
 

And for you purists, you can find the Journal of American Medical Association abstract here: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1380451

1 comment:

John's Brain said...

Dear Kushal,

Since I am not a doctor or a scientist, I don't understand this research finding well enough to adequately explain it. The link in my posting to the JAMA article is probably the best information source. You may also want to email the study authors directly for better advice. All the best, John