We have previously reported the benefits of taking vitamins in reducing cardiovascular disease, cancer risk and mental diseases. Now, the result of a new study added to the glowing benefits of vitamins by suggesting its role in reducing breast cancer.
The study, presented at the 101st annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), indicated that use of multivitamins was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer in women.
The study involved 268 women with recently diagnosed untreated breast cancer and 457 women without breast cancer. All of the women in the study completed an 8-page family history, medical history, lifestyle questionnaire, which included 3 sections on vitamin and dietary supplement intake over the previous 5 years.
The study found that use of multivitamin and calcium was associated with a 33% and a 41% decrease in breast cancer risk respectively.
Interesting, taking single supplements of each vitamin (A, E, C, and beta-carotene alone) was not associated with a significant reduction in breast cancer risk. This phenomenon might be due to the fact that vitamins have been shown to work better collectively in their antioxidant effect.
Lastly, the investigators found an increase breast cancer risk associated with the intake of folic acid. This finding was a concern to the investigators since high doses of folic acid could be obtained from supplements or fortified foods.
Source: Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:1268-1272.
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