Antioxdants called into question once again

For whatever reason, a meta-analysis review that was published last year (in JAMA) on antioxidants and was summarily criticized by every reputable expert, was republished this month with a different angle in the Cochrane Systematic Review.

The authors claim that of 67 randomized trials with over 232,550 participants using vitamins A, E and beta-carotene supplements, mortality increased by 16 percent.

The authors of last year's study admitted that there were major errors and corrections were made. They republished to "set the record straight." Unfortunately, they did not seem accomplish their goal.

1. The researchers had 747 trials at their disposal, but only chose to use 67, less than 9 percent of the evidence.
   
   
2. 405 of the 747 trials were excluded because there were no deaths. Could we purport that the numbers may have looked differently if they were included?
   
   
3. As what seems to be customary when structuring nutrient trials, the participants are mostly sick, aged people on very high doses. This is not the population base they should be studying.
   
   
4. Curiously, these same researchers published an update (from their 2005 findings) to one of the 67 trials in April's International Journal of Cancer. The original study indicated that antioxidants can speed up the development of cancer. The researchers now admit that the only people in the study who were seeing their cancer return were smokers who refused to kick the habit while they were receiving radiation therapy.