PEOPLE are getting advice and information on the benefits of health supplements available on the internet.

Researchers from Brighton and Sussex Medical School analysed the first 200 websites returned by Google when the term ‘antioxidants’ was searched.

The analysis included the type of website, such as news, commercial, academic, health, not-for-profit or government and the issue mentioned, including ageing, neurological disease, diabetes or arthritis.

The study also investigated the website’s stance towards antioxidants, such as neutral, positive or negative.

Researchers found that whether websites provided balanced information varied with the type of site.

In particular, websites of news or TV outlets often had a negative view of taking antioxidant supplements, while not questioning that the antioxidants found in fresh fruit are good for people.

The only websites that did not mention potential side effects of antioxidant supplements were those which are commercially focused.

The study found these often sell antioxidant supplements and promote the perceived healing and preventative powers more than any other type of websites.

Medical school chair of experimental medicine, Professor Pietro Ghezzi, said: “Antioxidants make up a huge proportion of the lucrative market of health supplements, making promises to boost our immune system or ensure healthy ageing.

“However, while their effect is an important area of medical research, there is not yet solid enough scientific evidence.

“This is why the NHS does not prescribe them and it would be unusual for a doctor to recommend them, except for the very rare cases of vitamin deficiencies, such as scurvy.

“The results of this study have highlighted just how often we learn about antioxidants from websites that exist for commercial gain.

“That said, commercial websites are ranked low by Google, which probably detects the lower quality of the information provided.”

The study also found that cancer was the most frequently discussed disease in relation to antioxidants, followed by cardiovascular and eye diseases.

However almost half of the websites that mentioned antioxidants and cancer did so to report that antioxidant supplements may increase cancer growth.

The commercial websites analysed did not mention this.

Instead they had a greater focus on antioxidants’ effects on ageing and immunity, which researchers say could prove more difficult to disprove.