There is no convincing scientific evidence that taking large amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, or the nutrients selenium and beta carotene can reduce the chances of getting cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease or other illnesses, a National Academy of Sciences panel announced yesterday.

The panel, which is revising all the government's official recommendations for how much vitamins and minerals Americans should get every day, also found insufficient evidence to set a minimum intake level for beta carotene, one of the most popular antioxidant supplements, or for lutein or lycopene. And because of evidence that beta carotene can potentially cause cancer in some people, especially smokers, the panel urged caution before taking it in high doses, recommending supplements "only for the prevention and control of vitamin A deficiency."

The panel stressed that these nutrients are important for good health and that a minimum daily intake is important. For women age 19 and older, the panel recommended that vitamin C intake should be 75 milligrams per day--a slight increase over the 1989 recommendation of 60 milligrams. Men 19 and older need 90 milligrams a day of vitamin C- -up from 60 milligrams. Smokers of both sexes require 35 milligrams a day more of the vitamin, the panel said, because of increased damage from free radicals. These levels of vitamin C can easily be achieved by eating five servings a day of fruits and vegetables, rather than relying on supplements, the panel said.