Common supplements that millions of Americans ingest to ward off the common cold and keep their joints healthy could—when taken in excess —increase the growth of blood vessels in cancer, according to researchers in Sweden. 

StudyFinds reported that the supplements in question are vitamins A, C, selenium, and zinc. The report said the results surprised the researchers because it was always a given that antioxidants can protect against cancer. (See “CANCER RATES SOARING AMONG THE YOUNG, OBESITY IS THE 800-POUND GORILLA IN THE ROOM” 11 Jul 2023, “AI PREDICTS PANCREATIC CANCER THREE YEARS BEFORE DOCTORS CAN SEE IT”5 Jul 2023 and “KILLING BRAIN CANCER WITH A TWEAK TO THE DIET”18 Apr 2023.)

The lead author from the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, said the research found that antioxidants activate a mechanism that causes cancer tumors to form new blood vessels, which is surprising, since it was previously thought that antioxidants have a protective effect. The new blood vessels nourish the tumors and can help them grow and spread.

In summation, he said there’s no need to “fear antioxidants in normal food but most people don’t need additional amounts of them.”

For example, vitamins E and C can stabilize the BACH1 protein, which can cause the spread of lung cancer.

Health News noted that antioxidants are a “diverse group of compounds that neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals.” 

The report said, “When the body produces free radicals faster than the body can detoxify them, it can cause oxidative stress. This oxidative stress can lead to cellular damage and contribute to the development of various diseases, including cancer.