Are antioxidants bad for sun seekers?
Posted Wednesday, March 04, 2009
If you're the type who likes to tan and you take antioxidant supplements in an effort to boost your internal sun protection, you may be doing more harm than good, according to a recent French study.
Researchers gave thousands of women either an antioxidant supplement (with lower-than-average doses of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium and zinc) or a placebo, and followed them for over seven years. In that time, 51 antioxidant-takers developed non-melanoma skin cancer, compared to 30 in the placebo group. But the most significant difference was in those who developed melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer: only 3 in the placebo group, and 13 in the antioxidant group.
The study didn't take into account sunscreen use, so further research is needed to confirm the negative effect or oral antioxidant doses on those who spend time in the sun.
Tags: antioxidants, beta-carotene, cancer, melanoma, research, selenium, skin cancer, study, sunscreen, supplement, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamins, zinc