Antioxidants and Cancer -

Preliminary Findings

Reports, to date, suggest that vitamins C and E and beta-carotene do offer protection against certain cancers, such as those of the lungs, esophagus ( gullet), stomach and large intestine. In particular, vitamin C is believed by some experts to the body’s major protective element against stomach cancer. This, if t rue, is especially important because stomach cancer is one of the most dangerous and least easily detected kinds, and is often fatally advanced before it is diagnosed.

We are still a long way from fully understanding the role of free radicals in the development of cancer. We do not even know whether their contribution is major or minor. There are, however, some very suggestive points in the story and since many cancers are so frightful and the antioxidants vitamins C and E are so safe, it is perhaps not surprising that many of the researchers engaged in this work are, like myself, taking their regular daily mega doses of these vitamins.