The Vitamin Myth: Why We Think We Need Supplements

In 1942, a study concluded that there is no indication that vitamin C alone, an antihistamine alone, or vitamin C plus an antihistamine have any important effect on the duration or severity of infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Other studies followed and also concluded that vitamin C didn't prevent colds. At least 15 studies have now shown that vitamin C doesn't treat the common cold.

Other studies showed that the use of high-dose vitamin C doesn't treat cancer.

• In 1994, researchers found that subjects that took vitamin E and beta-carotene were more likely to die from lung cancer or heart disease.
• A 1996 study found that vitamin A and beta-carotene increased the risk of dying from cancer and heart disease.
• A 2004 study found that vitamin A, C, E, and beta-carotene seemed to increase overall mortality.
• Several other studies came to the same conclusion.

The most likely explanation of why studies show that supplemental antioxidants are harmful is that free radicals aren't as bad as people believe.

While free radicals can damage DNA and disrupt cell membranes, it's not always bad. Free radicals kill bacteria and new cancer cells. Large doses of antioxidants interfere with the balance between free radical production and destruction, causing the immune system to be less able to kill harmful invaders. This is known as "the antioxidant paradox."