Men Benefit Most from Antioxidants

Antioxidants have long been studied to find out if they protect against cancer, but so far no randomized, placebo-controlled trial has shown clear evidence that they do. A recent double blind study looked at the benefits of antioxidant vitamins. It showed that men benefit from antioxidants more than women do. The study by the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris looked at over 7,000 women and 4,000 men for more than seven years. The participants were divided into groups that took antioxidant vitamins or a placebo and found that men who took the antioxidant capsules had a much lower risk of getting cancer. The reason why men benefit more from taking antioxidants is still undetermined, but it may be because the men had low levels of antioxidants at the start of the study or because more of them were smokers. The capsules used in The Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux Antioxydants (SU.VI.MAX) study contained vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, beta carotene, and zinc. The authors of the study stress that the antioxidant nutrients in these supplements could be matched by eating a well balanced diet. So men have an even more compelling reason than women do to eat healthy meals rich in fruits and vegetables.
SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/164/21/2335

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