This morning, The Center for Science in the Public Interest requested that the Food and Drug Administration take enforcement actions against manufacturers of dietary supplements containing more than 5,000 IUs of synthetic beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A) unless the labels of such products contain a statement warning consumers (think dietary supplement black box) that beta-carotene may cause lung cancer in smokers. This will obviously include the AREDs and all the AREDs copy-cat formulations.
This action was taken after the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research reviewed the scientific literature on the effects of diet, nutrition, and physical activity on cancer. They concluded that an excessive amount of synthetic beta-carotene (anything over 5,000 IUs) causes lung cancer in current smokers.
This conclusion echoed a concern about beta-carotene expressed in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) State-of-the-Science Conference Statement on Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements and Chronic Disease Prevention in 2006.
The NIH panel concluded: "We found no evidence to recommend beta-carotene supplements for the general population and strong evidence to recommend that smokers avoid excessive beta-carotene supplementation."
In spite of this 2006 NIH consensus, the AREDs2 committee still included 25,000 IUs of synthetic beta-carotene as the Vitamin A source in two of the arms of the AREDs2 study.
Biosyntrx multiples, Oculair and Macula Complete include a very small amount (500 IUs) of natural, not synthetic, beta-carotene as part of a full-spectrum of job specific antioxidants; beta carotene quenches singlet oxygen, which is particularly destructive to the retina. We do not include beta carotene as a source of Vitamin A.
FYI: Synthetic beta carotene is less than one third the cost of natural beta carotene. Therefore, natural beta carotene is rarely included in mass-produced supplements such as Centrum, which includes between 1,000 and 2,000 IUs of synthetic beta carotene as a source of Vitamin A in their different multiples.
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12 comments:
Kudos to Biosyntrx for sticking to their guns and refusing to formulate an AREDs copy cat formulation knowing that the formulation included too much beta carotene and too much zinc for safe long-term consumption.
The ARED formula has included excessive amounts of artificial beta-carotene from its introduction despite warnings from scientists.
Low amounts of natural beta-carotene in a full-spectrum antioxidant formula are effective, and have not shown the link to lung cancer noted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Your Friday Pearls has warned about this potential problem for at least three or four years, but manufacturers (and those prescribing their formulas) don’t listen because they go for cheap. Natural beta-carotene is expensive. Synthetic beta-carotene is cheap – and potentially risky.
A word to the wise: Biosyntrx formulas are specific and evidence based, not made cheap.
I was always to that the ARED formulation was better than anything else. Hats off to your company for letting consumers know this much needed info!!!!
This is why the FDA should regulate vitamins. Companies don't care about us they care about making a buck. Its nice to know that your company is different.
Way to stay ahead of the curve Biosyntrx!! I'm glad I don't have to worry as long as I'm taking your products.
In such a big world of "synthetic" products it is refreshing to see that a company like Biosyntrx is staying on the path of "natural".
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