I read with interest your Updates (WDDTY, vol 9, no 12) about the findings of beta-carotene and cancer, which I am already familiar with, but feel to be misleading and poor science.
From my understanding of this issue, this adverse result is likely to be caused by the use of beta-carotene. When taken in higher doses than other carotenes, beta-carotene will compete with them for receptor sites.
The result can be a deficiency of the other carotenes, and this may well be the problem, as these are also important nutrients.
This also explains why foods rich in beta-carotenes (which are also rich in other carotenes) do not carry the same risks. Francesca Naish, Natural Fertility Management, Woollahra, New South Wales.....