Updated

There is some controversy after a report claimed that taking antioxidant vitamin supplements was not only useless but could actually damage your health.

The Cochrane Collaboration - a review of 67 studies involving more than 230,000 men and women - found "no convincing evidence" that the supplements cut the risk of dying, the study said.

"Even more, beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E seem to increase mortality," the experts wrote.

The study was led at the Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark.

The Health Food Manufacturers' Association told Sky News online that the study was "in essence, systematically flawed."

"The analysis focused on one broad category of study, then evaluated just 67 of the 748 studies that could be included in the review," according to the Association.

"Therefore, the paper's conclusions are drawn on less than nine percent of available evidence. In no way can this review be considered comprehensive."