PubHawk
JAMA February 2007 PMID 17327526

Mortality in randomized trials of antioxidant supplements for primary and secondary prevention: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Goran Bjelakovic, Dimitrinka Nikolova, Lise Lotte Gluud, Rosa G Simonetti, Christian Gluud

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Mentions

137
Peak: 3 in Apr 2026
across 6 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

60,919
potential audience

Total likes

306

Video views

14,114

Mentions per month

Feb 2019 – Oct 2026

Where it's discussed

  • News51 articles
  • Blogs35 articles
  • Facebook27 posts
  • X / Twitter17 posts
  • Reddit4 posts
  • YouTube3 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collection reflects a cautious to skeptical discussion about the article, with multiple posts emphasizing potential harms of certain antioxidants (beta-carotene, vitamins A/E) and citing older meta-analyses, while others express doubt about claims or react with humor and unrelated comments. The tone alternates between cautionary, skeptical, and occasionally provocative, including multilingual and meme-like elements. Overall, readers engage by challenging interpretations, citing prior work, or joking about the implications, rather than presenting a coherent synthesis of the study’s nuances.

AgreementLow agreement

Overall mixed to negative views; several posts express disagreement or caution about antioxidants, citing harmful associations (beta-carotene, A, E) and challenging interpretations.

InterestNeutral interest

Audience shows some interest but also uncertainty and sarcasm; some posts reference other sources or dismiss the topic.

EngagementLow engagement

Some posts are dismissive or scattered (random lines, jokes) rather than in-depth analysis; a few attempt to link to broader debates.

ImpactNeutral impact

Indirect impact suggested; no consensus or concrete takeaway is asserted, though several posts imply potential harm or controversy.

Abstract in brief

  • The systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of antioxidant supplements like beta carotene, vitamin A, C, E, and selenium on mortality rates in adults, based on 68 randomized trials with over 232,000 participants.
  • Overall, when including all trials regardless of bias risk, antioxidant supplements did not significantly affect mortality, but low-bias trials showed a tendency for increased death rates, especially with certain vitamins and selenium.
  • Specifically, high-quality low-bias trials indicated that supplements such as beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E might actually raise mortality, while vitamin C and selenium had no significant effect.
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Mike Roberto
@MicroBerto · X

@BrandonLuuMD Not your best take. Beta-carotene supplementation increases cancer, cardiovascular mortality, bone fractures, and a bunch of other problems in numerous large meta-analyses: - Vivekananthan et al., 2003, "Use of antioxidant vitamins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease:

May 8, 2026 · 20 likes · 3 shares · 4,702 followers View post →
Ichor Grad Student
@IchorGrad · X

1) https://t.co/V08G5FTVAA 2) https://t.co/TlkvVeNZka 3) https://t.co/ZkcSPJ1Yed 4) https://t.co/DpBASzBHhh 5) https://t.co/x9sKeYHBfY 6) https://t.co/QhKVbmcDas 7) https://t.co/O9GFtGhFS1 8) https://t.co/fISwohRkOL

Dec 1, 2023 · 5 likes · 2,571 followers View post →
Michael Joyner
@DrMJoyner · X

Cautionary tale about bioplausible anti-aging supplements ⁦@DShaywitz⁩ ⁦@jflier⁩ https://t.co/IKkO5luJdJ

Feb 12, 2019 · 4 likes · 16,710 followers View post →
Mike Roberto
@MicroBerto · X

@LeadingReport Yeah, they gonna use beta-carotene for "orange"? Do you realize how high of a dose you need for that? And guess what causes cancer, increased cardiovascular mortality, and greater bone fractures in numerous large meta-analyses: - Vivekananthan et al., 2003, "Use of antioxidant

Apr 17, 2026 · 4 likes · 1 share · 4,702 followers View post →
Bilu Huang
@BiluHuang · X

@exosome While research by Liu Guanghui suggests that vitamin C has anti-aging properties, this paper indicates that vitamin C supplementation did not extend human lifespan: doi: 10.1001/jama.297.8.842.

Jul 21, 2026 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 1,149 followers View post →
Bere Hinojosa, MDh ⌬⇆⌬
@berenyz · X

Personas acudieron a una clínica de orientación homeopática para recibir sueros con vitaminas y posteriormente presentaron complicaciones graves de salud. Las autoridades sanitarias investigan lo ocurrido. Más allá del caso específico, el episodio permite recordar un fenómeno https://t.co/slNk2so56q

Apr 5, 2026 · 3 likes · 1,023 followers View post →

All mentions

Bilu Huang
@BiluHuang · X

@exosome While research by Liu Guanghui suggests that vitamin C has anti-aging properties, this paper indicates that vitamin C supplementation did not extend human lifespan: doi: 10.1001/jama.297.8.842.

Jul 21, 2026 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 1,149 followers View post →
bruno vellas
@bruno_vellas · X

Mortality in Randomized Trials of Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Secondary Prevention https://t.co/YXyCBSi5V8

Jul 15, 2026 View post →
Mike Roberto
@MicroBerto · X

@BrandonLuuMD Not your best take. Beta-carotene supplementation increases cancer, cardiovascular mortality, bone fractures, and a bunch of other problems in numerous large meta-analyses: - Vivekananthan et al., 2003, "Use of antioxidant vitamins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease:

May 8, 2026 · 20 likes · 3 shares · 4,702 followers View post →
Mike Roberto
@MicroBerto · X

@LeadingReport Yeah, they gonna use beta-carotene for "orange"? Do you realize how high of a dose you need for that? And guess what causes cancer, increased cardiovascular mortality, and greater bone fractures in numerous large meta-analyses: - Vivekananthan et al., 2003, "Use of antioxidant

Apr 17, 2026 · 4 likes · 1 share · 4,702 followers View post →
Bere Hinojosa, MDh ⌬⇆⌬
@berenyz · X

Personas acudieron a una clínica de orientación homeopática para recibir sueros con vitaminas y posteriormente presentaron complicaciones graves de salud. Las autoridades sanitarias investigan lo ocurrido. Más allá del caso específico, el episodio permite recordar un fenómeno https://t.co/slNk2so56q

Apr 5, 2026 · 3 likes · 1,023 followers View post →
Bere Hinojosa, MDh ⌬⇆⌬
@berenyz · X

Personas acudieron a una clínica de orientación homeopática para recibir sueros con vitaminas y posteriormente presentaron complicaciones graves de salud. Las autoridades sanitarias investigan lo ocurrido. Más allá del caso específico, el episodio permite recordar un fenómeno

Apr 5, 2026 · 1 like · 1,023 followers View post →
ianfmusgrave
@ianfmusgrave · X

@BlairHealt68622 @JasonTPA @GidMK Treatment with beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E may increase mortality https://t.co/NN6ho2efuI Supplementation of healthy adults with multivitamins has no benefical effects https://t.co/7u8mGneTc7

Mar 26, 2025 · 2,823 followers View post →
Дмитрий
@dimanolas · X

https://t.co/bTJT4Au5uU

Feb 4, 2024 · 16 followers View post →
Ichor Grad Student
@IchorGrad · X

1) https://t.co/V08G5FTVAA 2) https://t.co/TlkvVeNZka 3) https://t.co/ZkcSPJ1Yed 4) https://t.co/DpBASzBHhh 5) https://t.co/x9sKeYHBfY 6) https://t.co/QhKVbmcDas 7) https://t.co/O9GFtGhFS1 8) https://t.co/fISwohRkOL

Dec 1, 2023 · 5 likes · 2,571 followers View post →
luis hernan graffe
@hernangraffe · X

RT @hernangraffe: https://t.co/HI3SizzBvr

Aug 25, 2023 · 1 share · 3,111 followers View post →
luis hernan graffe
@hernangraffe · X

https://t.co/HI3SizzBvr

Aug 24, 2023 · 1 share · 3,111 followers View post →
복부지방법원
@degorgemantae · X

덴마크에서 했다는 메타분석은 "항산화 보충제"에 들어간 비타민A,E를 구체적으로 겨냥하고 있으나, 기사는 이제부터 비타민 보충제 전체에 대한 공격을 시작한다. 이 쯤 되면 그냥 하고싶은 말씀 하시려고 아무 연구나 가져오신 것 같은데. https://t.co/a3eZ8Gad4Y https://t.co/codSTV1lH9

Jun 30, 2022 · 201 followers View post →
化学物質過敏症・対策情報センター
@mcs_bic · X

ベータカロチン、ビタミンA、およびビタミンEによる治療は、死亡率を高める可能性があります。 死亡率に対するビタミンCとセレンの潜在的な役割については、さらに研究する必要があります。 https://t.co/gRpQLTB9kn

May 7, 2022 · 2 likes · 4,255 followers View post →
Sebastian Laube
@sebastianlaube · X

Die Leerdenker und Aluhutler schreien schon "Sauerstoff ist Gift - hört auf zu atmen!" https://t.co/hwZ3qOU8By

Apr 12, 2021 · 1 like · 381 followers View post →
Potato Fan
@nosoyyo7 · X

Taking antioxidant supplements ⬆️mortality here; Vit A esp has been found to be harmful in others too. One could promote eating lots of plant-based safe antioxidants but then you’d be called a Nazi because victims of imperialism don’t mind cancer. https://t.co/hb0p96C4PS https://t.co/nkzcAycuvF

Mar 17, 2020 · 661 followers View post →
Southern New Yorker
@SouthernNYorker · X

We know nothing.... Mortality in Randomized Trials of Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Secondary Prevention https://t.co/mb4hVoue93

Dec 21, 2019 · 351 followers View post →
Michael Joyner
@DrMJoyner · X

Cautionary tale about bioplausible anti-aging supplements ⁦@DShaywitz⁩ ⁦@jflier⁩ https://t.co/IKkO5luJdJ

Feb 12, 2019 · 4 likes · 16,710 followers View post →