A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, adds to other studies showing that various antioxidant supplements do not prevent cancer of any kind.

Beta carotene, vitamins C and E supplements taken for years failed to lower overall cancer risk, the new study found. Fruits and vegetables are rich in these antioxidants and it has been shown that these vitamins offer protection against damage caused by free radicals, which can harm cells, tissues and organs.

The study was carried out by a team at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA.

Dr. JoAnn Manson of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston and colleagues tracked 7,627 women who were an average 60 years old at the start of the study. The participants took supplements for about 9-1/2 years; some received 500 milligrams of vitamin C daily, 600 IU (international units) of vitamin E every other day or 50 milligrams of beta carotene every other day, or various combinations of the supplements. They all had cardiovascular disease or were at risk for it.

The study found that a total of 624 of the women developed cancer, and 176 died from it during the period of the study. The researchers, however, said they didn’t find any "statistically significant" evidence that the vitamins either helped or hurt a woman's risk of developing cancer.

"More studies need to be done to see who may benefit from antioxidant supplements," the researchers said.

A recent study carried out by researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School has concluded that taking folic acid and other B vitamins on regular basis doesn’t prevent breast cancer or cancer in general. An earlier study (of a much smaller group) conducted on the effect of selenium supplementation on the recurrence of skin cancers did not demonstrate a reduced rate of recurrence of skin cancers, but did show a reduced occurrence of total cancers.