Vitamins Vindicated

"Breast cancer study hints at harmful effects of vitamins," proclaimed the headline of a recent Vancouver Sun article that some feel could be extremely misleading.

The story, which appeared Dec. 4, 2002, discussed a study that compared the survival and recurrence rates of breast cancer patients who took mega-doses of vitamins and minerals during treatment with a control group.

The article started with: "Breast cancer patients who took vitamin supplements during treatment were not only more likely to relapse, but also to die, according to a BC study."

Dr. Ivo Olivotto, study co-author and leader of radiation oncology at the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island Centre, was quoted as saying, "...a lot of people take vitamins in the hopes and belief it will improve outcomes, but the study shows that there may even be a harmful effect."

Yet in a phone interview from Victoria, Dr. Olivotto states he never actually said that vitamins are dangerous. "What, in fact, the study shows at this point is that there's no added benefits [of]."

Dr. Abram Hoffer, a Victoria physician with almost 30 years' experience in orthomolecular medicine (prevention and treatment of disease using nutritional supplements), is another study co-author and its original instigator. In a phone interview, he explains how he wanted to test his observance that cancer patients who combined conventional and orthomolecular medicine seemed to live longer and have a better quality of life. Over the years, he has treated more than 1,200 cancer patients, including about 270 breast cancer patients.

With the help of the BC Cancer Agency, 90 of Dr. Hoffer's early-stage breast cancer patients were matched with a similar demographic of case controls 180 patients from the agency's files. All women had cancer in one breast and all had also undergone standard cancer treatment. The vitamin group also took supplements including vitamin C, plus other recommended vitamins and minerals.

Researchers found that over the course of five years, the control (non-vitamin) group had 35 deaths and 44 relapses, while the vitamin group, which was half the size, had 23 deaths and 30 relapses. Statistically, the vitamin group was 1.75 times more likely to die, and 1.55 times more likely to have a relapse, than the control group.

Does this mean we automatically blame vitamins? No. First, the study's sample size was small; more studies are needed to determine whether there's a real statistical difference, or whether the results occurred just by chance. "The study's final analysis, with which all the authors agreed, was that there was no difference in the outcome," says Dr. Hoffer. "This means that the difference in the number of deaths was statistically insignificant and shows that there was no harm to any of the group given the nutrient program."

Second, there are many possible reasons why the vitamin group suffered more deaths and recurrences. Before drawing a conclusion, each reason would have to be tested. The purpose of this particular study, however, wasn't to test any of them.

Nor did the published study suggest vitamins caused harm. The authors addressed this concern by writing: "Some oncologists believe that antioxidants could interfere with the actions of some chemotherapy agents; however, the scientific debate on this subject is still ongoing."

The only thing this study provides, Dr. Hoffer states, is moderately good evidence that vitamin therapy is not likely to prevent recurrence in patients with early-stage breast cancer. "The results were disappointing," he admits, "but this is what science is about." One possible next step, he believes, is larger independent studies on vitamins and their effect on invasive breast cancer.

The original study was published last November in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.