In Brief: Beta carotene and lung cancer

Beta carotene and lung cancer: FDA will evaluate current scientific evidence concerning the association of beta carotene and lung cancer and the public health risk, if any, associated with the marketing of dietary supplements containing beta carotene, the agency says in March 31 response to a July 1996 citizen petition from Victor Herbert, MD, Bronx V-A Medical Center. FDA denies Herbert's request that it issue regs mandating warning labels for supplements containing vitamins C or E. Herbert wanted warning labels stating: "Caution: The beta carotene in this product is synthetic and can promote cancer in smokers"; "Caution: The vitamin C in this product is synthetic and can promote the generation of harmful free radicals in the 12% of Americans with high body iron"; and "Caution: The vitamin E in this product is synthetic and prohemorrhagic and dangerous for people with a family history of hemorrhagic stroke"...