Vitamin E increases lung cancer risk

A recent study has linked Vitamin E and lung cancer. The study suggests that the risk of lung cancer increases by seven per cent for every additional 100 mg/day of vitamin E, with the risk being particularly noticeable among smokers. A researcher explains, "This risk translates into a 28 per cent increased risk of lung cancer at a dose of 400 mg/day for ten years."

Vitamin E is the subject of other worrisome findings. Recent studies have shown it shortens lifespan, increases risk of new cancer, skin cancer, and stroke.

Vitamin E is a mainstay of multivitamins. There is enough evidence that many of the constituent ingredients in a multivitamin pose a hazard to some people -- copper, iron (for men), betacaritine -- that mulivitamins are probably best avoided unless you have a compelling justification to take one.