Vitamin Use After Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Antioxidant Safety

Is it safe to take antioxidants during breast cancer treatment? According to a recent study in the journal Cancer, the answer may depend on the type of supplement and the dose.

The study

The study examined the association between antioxidant use and breast cancer recurrence and survival in 2,264 women with early-stage breast cancer. 81% took antioxidants after diagnosis, either individually or in multivitamin form. (Links to the study and Reuters and Indianapolis Star articles may be found on the multivitamin page of our website.)

Vitamin C and vitamin E

Taking single supplements of vitamin C or vitamin E six or seven times a week was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence. Vitamin E was also associated with a decreased risk of death from any cause.

However, the lead researcher noted that much of this benefit may be due to a "healthy user bias," meaning women who take supplements "tend to have healthier habits in general."

Carotenoids: Vitamin A, beta-carotene and lutein

On the other hand, "frequent use" of any combination of carotenoids, such as vitamin A, beta-carotene and lutein, was associated with an increased risk of death from breast cancer or any other cause. Of 89 women who took carotenoids six to seven days a week, 18 percent died of breast cancer, compared to less than 7% of women who did not.

Because these patients would also have a "healthy user bias," the lead researcher noted the findings on the increased risk of death "are even more striking."

Multivitamins

The study findings did not pertain to multivitamin use, which "generally have more moderate doses of individual nutrients."

Notes of caution from the researchers

Heather Greenlee, lead researcher, told Reuters that the study "adds to the growing body of literature suggesting that dietary supplements containing high doses carotenoids may be harmful, and people should think twice before taking them."

At LATESTBreastCancer.com, we follow breast cancer news and research daily. We highlight interesting developments in this blog and add links to medical journal abstracts and news articles to the treatment pages of our website. We sort news and research by test, treatment option and complementary therapy. Our goal is to make internet research easy. We look forward to keeping you posted.

The Breast Cancer News Update: July 22

There's been a lot of buzz about a recent study which found that tall women have a higher risk of breast cancer. According to the story in the Los Angeles Times, breast cancer risk increased 17% with every 4 inches in height. While this may be interesting, it's not really useful. Height is not a modifiable risk. Today we'll look at recent studies on modifiable risk factors such as diet, exercise, and alcohol use. All of the studies below can be found on the complementary therapy and lifestyle pages of the LATESTBreastCancer.com website.

Diet and breast cancer risk: soy, omega-3s and vitamins

Breast cancer research does not always have a positive ending. This month, two studies found that soy and omega-3 fatty acids do not reduce the hormones associated with breast cancer risk. Another study found that while vitamin A may reduce risk, vitamins C and E do not appear to have an effect.

Dietary soy does not modify estrogen levels

A July 8 study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention examined the effect of dietary soy on blood and nipple aspirate fluid estrogen levels to assess impact on breast cancer risk. The authors concluded that soy in the amounts typically consumed by Asians did not significantly modify blood or nipple fluid estrogen levels. They did observe a non-significant trend towards lower estrogen levels in nipple fluid during the high-soy diet, which "counters concerns about adverse effects of soy foods on breast cancer risk."

Omega-3 fatty acids do not reduce hormones associated with risk

A July 11 study in Nutrition and Cancer found, contrary to expectations, that omega-3 fatty acids did not reduce the hormones associated with breast cancer risk.

Retinol and vitamin A may reduce breast cancer risk

A July 15 review in Cancer Causes & Control analysed the research on retinol, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E and breast cancer risk. The authors concluded that intake of retinol and vitamin A "could reduce breast cancer risk," but the association between vitamins C and E and risk "seem to be limited."

Lifetime exercise reduces precancerous benign breast disease

According to a July 12 study in Cancer Causes & Control, "exercise may be inversely associated with the risk of developing proliferative benign breast disease, one of the earliest steps in the development of breast cancer." The study followed over 40,000 women for four years. Women in the study reported on levels of physical activity during adolescence and adulthood. A significant inverse association was found between walking and the risk of benign breast disease.

Alcohol and breast cancer risk

This month there have been two stories on the use of alcohol and breast cancer risk.

First, a July 11 story in the Los Angeles Times reported that although government health agencies often publish recommended drinking limits, no amount of alcohol is safe in terms of breast cancer risk.

On July 19 and 20, BBC News and Cancer Research UK reported on a study which found that obesity has the greatest effect on the hormones associated with breast cancer risk, followed by alcohol use then smoking. Women who drank 2.5 units of alcohol a day had higher levels of all hormones. A large glass of wine is 3 units of alcohol.

Please check back Monday for highlights of the weekend breast cancer news. Until then, all the latest breast cancer news and research may be found on the treatment pages of the LATESTBreastCancer.com website.

The Breast Cancer Daily Update: May 3

Today, there were three news items of note and some announcements from the research world.

First, the news.

There's been a lot of confusion about the safety of hormone replacement therapy lately. Today, the Los Angeles Times published an interview with an expert in the field. He talks about breast cancer risk factors and age considerations.

On its website, Cure Today ran two Reuters stories about breast cancer. The first revealed that breast implants affect breast cancer screening, but not prognosis. The second covered a recent study about the association between serum Vitamin D levels and tumor aggression. The study had been covered by several other sources last week, with a focus on the importance of monitoring Vitamin D levels in current patients. Today's story went further to address implications for Vitamin D levels in healthy women. (All stories can be found on the news tab of the LATESTBreastcancer.com Vitamin D page.)

In the research world, Medical News Today published initial findings from a trial of the SAVI Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation device, and news about early enrollment in a Phase II trial of eniluricil for metastatic patients.

There was some excitement across the pond, where according to the UK Daily Mail, researchers compared the discovery of three new breast cancer genes to "finding gold in Trafalgar Square." New drugs from the discovery may still be five years away.

We'll continue to post links to the latest breast cancer news every day. On Friday, we'll also highlight the new breast cancer research developments we discovered in medical publications this week. Stay tuned!