Overblown myth

Demand dimmed: carrots need no (Credit: Arvind Yadav / CSE)BETA carotene, the amazing vitamin
found primarily in carrots and promoted as a preventive cure for both cancer
and heart disease may not work wonders after all. Contrary, to popular
beliefs, two studies financed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), US,
reveal that beta carotene is completely
ineffective in preventing cancer and
heart disease and in certain cases, it
could even prove harmful to some
people.

Health officials in the us hope that
the revelations could bring to an end the
beta carotene fad. Says Richard
Klausner, director, NCI, "With clearly no
benefit and even a hint of possible harm,
I can see no reason that an individual
should take beta carotene." One of the
studies - Physicians Health Study -
which took 12 years, involved 22,071
doctors who were randomly ordered to
take 50 mg of beta carotene or a dummy
pill every other day. 'The other study -
Beta Carotene and Retinol Efficacy -
with 18,314 participants, had them consuming beta carotene, a vitamin A Pill,
both or a placebo.