It’s a revelation that’s shaking the scientific community and increasingly worrying consumers: common dietary supplements, often perceived as harmless, could increase the risk of cancer. A seemingly harmless daily habit, but one that, according to Dr. Mohammad Muneeb Khan and the “Killing Cancer Kindly” organization, is far from risk-free when poorly managed.
While millions of people swallow their multivitamin tablets every day, believing they are boosting their health, this practice could actually have harmful effects, including promoting the proliferation of cancer cells. Here’s a closer look.
Supplements perceived as allies… that could become discreet enemies
Who hasn’t slipped a multicolored capsule into their bag, thinking they were doing the right thing? Multivitamins have become staples in health aisles, often presented as wellness aids. However, beneath this reassuring image, some supplements may hide little-known dangers, especially when taken without proper medical supervision.
According to Dr. Khan’s research, excessive intake of vitamins B6, B9 (folic acid), and B12 could increase the risk of developing certain cancers by 30%, particularly lung and prostate cancers.
These figures are based on serious studies that are now prompting experts to call for stricter regulation and increased public information.
Why are these synthetic vitamins a problem?
The difference is essential: it is synthetic vitamins, in the form of supplements, which are being singled out, and not those naturally present in food.
In a plate of raw vegetables or seasonal fruits, vitamins are absorbed gradually, at the rate the body needs.
But when you ingest a concentrated supplement, the vitamins quickly flood the bloodstream, creating a surplus that some cells, including cancerous ones, can take advantage of.
In short, it’s like watering an entire garden when only one plant is thirsty… but without being able to choose which plants will benefit from the excess. Cancer cells could then grow more quickly, taking advantage of these excess nutrients.
Solutions for more prudent and controlled consumption
Faced with this worrying observation, Dr. Khan recommends several strong measures:
- Reclassify multivitamins as drugs, making them available only with a medical prescription.
- Impose health warnings on packaging, similar to those on cigarette packets.
- Raise public awareness of the risks of uncontrolled overconsumption, particularly for at-risk populations.
Pending these regulatory measures, experts recommend limiting the intake of food supplements to strictly necessary cases, i.e. in cases of proven deficiency diagnosed by a health professional.
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