Men can cut their risk of cancer and premature death by a third by taking vitamin supplements, according to a new French study. The supplements provided no extra preventative benefits for women, however, because of their already lower cancer and death risks.
The findings come from a major new French study known as SU.VI.MAX, which was funded with both public and private money.
It shows that men who took a vitamin and mineral antioxidant supplement daily over a 7½-year period could cut their risk of cancer by 31 per cent.
It also indicated a general reduction in risk of death by 37 per cent compared to those not taking the supplements.
The research was overseen by ISTNA, the French Scientific and Technical Institute for Nutrition and Diet, which is linked through higher education research centres to the National Education and the Research Ministries.
The SU.VI.MAX trial is the first randomised trial in the world to demonstrate that an appropriate intake of antioxidant vitamins and minerals may reduce the incidence of cancers and mortality in a Western population.
The study was prompted by findings dating back years that nutritional factors were important in cancer, with recent work focusing on the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and reduced cancer risks.
Many fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, substances that can mop up free oxygen that arises naturally as we digest food.
Free oxygen has been shown to play a role in many disease processes including cancer.
The double-blind placebo-controlled trial was set up in 1994 to investigate the link between low antioxidant intake and a higher risk of cancer and heart disease.
While the impact on cancer risk and mortality was clearly demonstrated in men, no effect was found on heart disease.
No benefits were detected in women.
French women already had healthy levels of antioxidants through eating more fruit and vegetables, according to the study.
In total, there were 13,017 participants - 7,886 women aged 35-60 and 5,141 men aged 45-60 - in the SU.VI.MAX study, of whom 6,481 persons were given a daily nutritional supplement for 7½ years.
The supplement consisted of beta-carotene 6mg, vitamin C 120mg, vitamin E 30mg, selenium 100mg and zinc 20mg.