JAMA study shows daily multi could reduce cancer risk by 8 per cent

The Journal of the American Medical Association has published a new study showing that taking a daily multivitamin supplement could reduce the risk of cancer by eight per cent.

"Although the main reason to take multivitamins is to prevent nutritional deficiency, these data provide support for the potential use of multivitamin supplements in the prevention of cancer in middle-aged and older men," researchers in the study wrote

The study involved nearly 15,000 male doctors aged 50 and over who took either a multivitamin or a placebo over an average of 11 years.

The researchers noted that it was likely the combination of essential vitamins and minerals in multivitamins mirrored healthier dietary patterns - which had been previously linked to a reduced cancer risk.

"Compared with placebo, men taking a daily multivitamin had a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of total cancer," the study says.

Director of Blackmores Institute, Neal Mercado, believes the study is significant and adds to the growing body of evidence in the role of optimal nutrition in disease prevention.

Dr Mark Donohoe, an Australian integrative medical practitioner said of the study: “The take-home message from this study is that if you're a male over 50, a one-a-day multivitamin is a sensible investment in cancer prevention, and will probably reduce your risk of dying of cancer as well. If you're a woman or under 50, there is no reason to think that the same benefit would not be present, so until such alternative studies are available, the same advice should apply.”

“When you look at the numbers - a 8% reduction in cancer risk, and a 12% reduction in cancer deaths, along with the study's claim that one in three adults take a daily multivitamin - it is impressive,” said Dr Donohoe.

“A 7% reduction would mean 8,000 fewer cancers diagnosed, and a 12% mortality reduction would translate to over 4,000 lives saved in Australia per year.”

Check out Blackmores multivitamin range which includes Blackmores Multivitamin + Mineral, Blackmores NutriMulti and Blackmores Multi Action + Omega.