ConsumerLabs conducts a valuable service in independent product reviews but it will cost you money to read the complete reports. They do release highlighted information, without detailed specifics, and this week they released the results from its new Product Review of Supplements for Cancer Prevention.

Of the 22 supplements containing three popular ingredients -- green tea, lycopene or selenium - that were tested, the results do not look very good for the consumer. The research testers found problems in three out of the four green tea products. According to the abstract of the report, one product contained only 71 percent of its claimed level of EGCG, a key compound in green tea, while two products were found to be contaminated with lead, with 3.3 to 6.8 micrograms per daily serving, far above acceptable limits. Four selenium supplements passed the testing standards, and one failed, as it contained only 38 percent of its claimed ingredient. All five lycopene supplements passed the test.

The brand names of cancer prevention supplements tested were Bluebonnet, Canadian Sun, Country Life, GNC, Food Science of Vermont, Futurebiotics, Herbal Select, Jarrow, KAL, Life Extension, Metabolic Maintenance, Nature's Answer, Nature's Bounty, Pharmanex, Puritan's Pride, Schiff, Vitamin World, and Whole Foods.

However, you will have to pay a fee to find out which products and companies made the grade and which ones bamboozled the buyer out of some bucks. However, without ordering a copy of the report, it is clear that it is a buyer beware market when it comes to cancer prevention supplements. You might be getting a bottle full of empty promise. I would stick to a variety of cancer prevention foods whenever possible for cancer prevention nutrients.