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Published online 4 December 2007 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2007.339
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The ghost of research past
Carrots are still taken to prevent cancer, despite clinical results suggesting they don't work.
In 1981, Nature published a review about the possible link between high levels of dietary β-carotene and reduced rates of cancer. The article came with an unusual message from the editor running along the bottom of the first page.
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"...some authors referenced the observational data without even mentioning the clinical trial results." Surely one of the implications of this study is that the peer review process is not up to scratch? Spud Gun.
The problem with the study is using synthetic vitamins. A look at the methods: “synthetic dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (50 percent powder) and synthetic beta carotene (10 percent water-soluble beadlets)� N. Engl. J. Med. 330, 1029-1035 (1994) Why use synthetic vitamins? Vitamin E is available in its natural form as RRR-α-tocopherol isolated from plant sources, AND synthetically manufactured all-rac-α-tocopherol. Synthetic vit. E consists of a racemic mixture of eight possible stereoisomers. While there are no good comaprison studies of natural vs synthetic vit E, there is a logical assumption that synthetic forms are potentially suspect. The study was setup to fail and then is touted by those with a lack of nutritional knowledge. S. Miller MD