According to American experts, taking beta-carotene, vitamin E, multivitamin complexes for cardiovascular diseases or as part of the prevention of cancer will not bring any benefit.
The US Prevention Task Force (USPSTF) has issued advisory guidelines against the use of beta-carotene or vitamin E supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer.
The new guide is in full agreement with the organization’s previous paper: “The USPSTF again concludes that evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of multivitamins and single- or dual-nutrient supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. The USPSTF again recommends against the use of beta-carotene or vitamin E supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer.”
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The USPSTF justifies its recommendations as follows:
there is sufficient evidence that beta-carotene supplements are not beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer;
there is sufficient evidence that vitamin E supplements are not beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer;
there is no reliable data on the benefits of taking multivitamins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer;
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of single or combined nutrient supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer.
The USPSTF also recalled that there is ample evidence that beta-carotene may increase the risk of developing lung cancer among high-risk individuals. There are also data on the toxicity of tocopherol (vitamin E).