Antioxidants may lower uterine cancer risk
Added 22.09.2009
Uterine cancer: the fourth most common form of cancer in women in the UK
According to Cancer Research UK, over 6,000 cases of uterine cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK making it the fourth most common type of cancer in women. This type of cancer claims more than 1,500 lives a year.Certain antioxidants linked to lowered uterine cancer risk
A meta-analysis published this month in Cancer Causes and Control, has found that certain antioxidant vitamins can lower the risk of uterine cancer significantly. The nutrients in question are vitamins C and E and beta-carotene.The Scientific Study
Background information
One cohort and 12 case-control studies were reviewed for an association between antioxidant vitamin intake and endometrial cancer.
Results
Beta-carotene: For every 1,000 mcg increase per 1,000 kcal, uterine cancer risk was reduced by 12%.
Vitamin C: For every 50 mg increase per 1,000 kcal, uterine cancer risk was lowered by 15%.
Vitamin E: For every 5 mg increase per 1,000 kcal, uterine cancer risk was reduced by 9%.
References:
Bandera, E.V. & all. "Antioxidant vitamins and the risk of endometrial cancer: a dose-response meta-analysis." Cancer Causes and Control. June 2009.
Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:
This study is a so-called meta-analysis, which means that researchers "pool" the results of several studies and conclude the "bottom line." In other words, if the study is not manipulated by excluding many studies that prove otherwiese, this type of study can be trusted as closer to the turth than the result of just one study.
What this meta-analysis shows is the higher the intake of carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin E, the greater the likelihood of avoiding endometrial cancer. These results are found with most other cancers as well as many other diseases. But be aware of studies where the researchers have used "synthetic" vitamins. In most scientific studies where the researchers have found lack of disease preventive effects of vitamins, it is because they have looked at the effect of synthetic forms of the vitamins instead of natural forms. Synthetic vitamin E, for instance, has only 30%-40% of the effect of natural vitamin E. Synthetic forms are widely used by manufacturers because they are less expensive and most people are not aware of the difference between natural and synthetic forms. In general, synthetic forms of vitamins do NOT have the same effect as natural vitamins. Next time you choose a vitamin brand, you should check that they only use natural forms as spending money on buying synthetic forms may be a waste of money in the best case.
