Vitamin supplements do nothing to stave off illness and could even lead to cancer, a leading expert
has warned.

Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund, has pointed out that people who regularly take vitamin and mineral supplements instead of eating a balanced diet are at greater risk.

"Many people think they can reduce their cancer risk by taking supplements, but the evidence does not support this," the Daily Express quoted Wiseman as saying. "Just because a dietary pattern that provides a relatively high level of a particular nutrient might protect against cancer, it does not mean taking it in tablet form will have the same effect.

"In fact, at high doses the effect of these micronutrients is unpredictable and can be harmful to health,"Wiseman added. Research suggests that vitamins A and E can actually cause illness. Wiseman said: "There are studies that show high doses of some supplements can increase risk of some cancers."