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Local Oncologist Raises Concerns About Multivitamin Use and Cancer Risk
A local NHS oncologist is raising concerns about the potential link between multivitamin use and an increased risk of cancer. Dr. Mohammad Muneeb Khan, leader of the charity Killing Cancer Kindly (KCK), argues that the high doses of synthetic nutrients in multivitamins could fuel the growth of cancer cells.
Dr. Khan explains that while naturally occurring vitamins in food are absorbed slowly, allowing the body to utilize what it needs and eliminate the excess, synthetic vitamins from supplements can flood the bloodstream.
This creates an environment where cancer cells, which can absorb nutrients at a much higher rate than healthy cells, can thrive. He likens the situation to “ravenous little Pac-Men” consuming the excess vitamins and multiplying rapidly.
KCK suggests this potential risk extends to various cancers, including prostate, bowel, and breast cancer, and is calling for significant changes in how multivitamins are regulated. The charity advocates for mandatory warning labels on multivitamin packaging, similar to those found on tobacco products.
Dr. Khan even suggests that multivitamins should be reclassified as prescription drugs, limiting their availability to individuals with diagnosed deficiencies.
This concern stems from the belief that the body efficiently obtains necessary vitamins through a balanced diet, rendering supplements unnecessary for most people. Dr.
Khan points to emerging research suggesting a correlation between synthetic vitamin intake and increased cancer rates. One cited study, the CARET trial, indicated a nearly 30 percent increased risk of lung cancer in individuals taking supplements containing vitamins B6, B9, and B12.
While further research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate the impact of other vitamins, Dr. Khan urges caution.
He states that natural vitamins are not a concern due to the body’s controlled absorption process, unlike synthetic vitamins which can overwhelm the system.
KCK plans to collaborate with an American university on a groundbreaking study next year to further explore the potential link between multivitamins and cancer. Dr.
Khan stresses the importance of immediate action to raise awareness of these potential risks and advocates for stricter regulations on multivitamin sales. He emphasizes that, like antibiotics, vitamins should be used judiciously and only when medically necessary.
Dr. Khan’s latest book, You’ll Wish You Were an Elephant: Killing Cancer Kindly, offers further guidance on cancer prevention in adults.
He is also the author of The How, What and Why of Cancer: Separating Fact from Fiction.