Counseling for Vitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Release Date: June 2003

Summary of Recommendations / Supporting Documents

Summary of Recommendations

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the use of supplements of vitamins A, C, or E; multivitamins with folic acid; or antioxidant combinations for the prevention of cancer or cardiovascular disease.

  Rating: "I" statement.

  Rationale: The USPSTF found poor evidence to determine whether supplementation with these vitamins reduces the risk for cardiovascular disease or cancer. The available evidence from randomized trials is either inadequate or conflicting, and the influence of confounding variables on observed outcomes in observational studies cannot be determined. As a result, the USPSTF could not determine the balance of benefits and harms of routine use of supplements of vitamins A, C or E; multivitamins with folic acid; or antioxidant combinations for the prevention of cancer or cardiovascular disease.

• The USPSTF recommends against the use of beta-carotene supplements, either alone or in combination, for the prevention of cancer or cardiovascular disease.

  Rating: "D" recommendation.

  Rationale: The USPSTF found good evidence that beta-carotene supplementation provides no benefit in the prevention of cancer or cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older adults. In 2 trials restricted to heavy smokers, beta-carotene supplementation was associated with higher incidence of lung cancer and higher all-cause mortality. The USPSTF concludes that beta-carotene supplements are unlikely to provide important benefits and might cause harm in some groups.

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Supporting Documents

Routine Vitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease, June 2003

Recommendations and Rationale (PDF File, 181 KB; PDF Help)
Cancer Prevention: Summary of Evidence (PDF File, 639 KB; PDF Help)
Cancer Prevention: Update of the Evidence from Randomized Controlled Trials, 1999-2002 (PDF File, 549 KB; PDF Help)
Routine Vitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: A Summary of the Evidence (PDF File, 143 KB; PDF Help)
What's New (PDF File, 74 KB; PDF Help)

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Current as of June 2003

Internet Citation:

Routine Vitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease, Topic Page. June 2003. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsvita.htm