The study, which was really a summary of past studies, reported no proof that vitamin pills prevented cancer and some evidence that the pills may lessen life expectancy.
From the BBC:
Dr Goran Bjelakovic and his colleagues, working at the Copenhagen Trial Unit in Denmark, looked at the supplements beta-carotene, vitamins A, C and E and selenium as different combinations or separately. They compared the rate of gastrointestinal cancers, such as stomach, liver or bowel cancer, among people taking the antioxidant supplements and people taking fake tablets with no active ingredient. Other than selenium, regular use of antioxidant supplements did not prevent gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.
An important part that has been missing from several of the articles I read is pointed out by "Dr Richard Sullivan of Cancer Research UK who said the research could have been biased because many of the people in the study were smokers, who have a higher death risk anyway."
In his words: The best way to lower the risk is to eat a healthy diet and not smoke."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3703498.stm
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