BETA NO MORE

By Christine Gorman

IT SOUNDED LIKE SUCH A GOOD IDEA. Scientists knew that folks who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables have lower rates of cancer and heart disease. They also knew that these same people have high levels of a compound called beta carotene in their blood. Like its chemical cousin vitamin A, beta carotene--which is found in carrots, squash and leafy, dark-green vegetables--seems to act like a biochemical broom, sweeping out of the body toxins that can trigger cancerous growth and heart problems. Could taking pills with extra doses of the compound confer some of the same benefits? Millions of vegetable-hating Americans hoped so. Urged on by promotions of the vitamin industry, the public spent $75 million last year on beta-carotene supplements.

They should have saved their money. Last week, officials at the National Cancer Institute released the results of two large studies designed to put the benefits of beta-carotene supplements to the test. One followed 22,071 doctors who for 12 years took either 50 mg of beta carotene or a placebo every other day. Another involved 18,314 smokers, ex-smokers and asbestos workers. Not only did beta carotene produce absolutely no measurable health benefits, but the study of smokers had to be halted early because beta carotene seemed to be making the rate of death from cancer and heart disease worse, not better.

Clearly, taking a simple chemical supplement is not the same as eating a vegetable. Scientist suspect there are other natural ingredients that work with the vitamins to promote health. But whether this news will put an end to the beta-carotene craze remains to be seen. The studies showed no harm in taking lower doses (3 mg) of the supplement, and the vitamin industry was quick to exploit that opening, suggesting that taking beta carotene might still be beneficial for nonsmokers. Yet even die-hard pill takers have to agree that the safest and cheapest form of prevention is to do what mother said, and eat those vegetables.

--By Christine Gorman