Micronutrients & recovery
Long-term supplementation with beta carotene (50 mg on alternate days) provides no benefit and causes no significant harm regarding the incidence of malignant neoplasms, cardiovascular disease, or all-cause mortality in healthy, well-nourished men.
Do not take beta carotene supplements to prevent cancer or heart disease. This study of over 22,000 men followed for 12 years shows that taking 50 mg of beta carotene every other day does not reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, or death compared to taking a placebo. While eating fruits and vegetables rich in beta carotene is beneficial, the isolated supplement offers no such protection.
In this trial among healthy men, 12 years of supplementation with beta carotene produced neither benefit nor harm in terms of the incidence of malignant neoplasms, cardiovascular disease, or death from all causes.
Why this rating
Large-scale, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 12 years of follow-up and high compliance.
Source
Lack of Effect of Long-Term Supplementation with Beta Carotene on the Incidence of Malignant Neoplasms and Cardiovascular Disease
Charles H. Hennekens et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 1996
DOI 10.1056/nejm199605023341801
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