Internet searches blasted panic headlines recently about an increased risk for breast cancer by women who take multivitamins. The research consisted of a prospective study begun in 1997 that had 35,329 women ages 49 to 83 fill out a questionnaire about their multivitamin-use. The researchers then followed up 9.5 years later by analyzing the women who got breast cancer.
The Multivitamin and Breast Cancer Risk Research Study
The research was reported in the March 24, 2010 online issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. After almost 10 years, 2.8 percent or 974, of the close to 35,000 Swedish women were diagnosed with breast cancer. After adjusting for lifestyle and risk factors, the study found a significant risk of increased breast cancer, 19 percent, in those who say they took multivitamins.
Study author Dr. Susanna Larsson of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden noted that the multivitamin and breast cancer link needs to be studied further. Furthermore, she said that for an individual woman, multivitamin-use has a small effect on the risk of breast cancer.
Experts Disagree with March 2010 Report
Officials from the American Council of Science and Health – a consumer education consortium with scientists and physicians on its Board – say that to associate a 19% increased risk of breast cancer with multivitamins by self-reporting over a 10-year period is absurd.
The American Institute for Cancer Research – an organization dedicated to cancer prevention – believes the study is not a reason to stop taking a daily multivitamin. To decrease the risk of cancer, the group advocates a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and low in red meat. However, they acknowledge that some women with nutritional deficiencies could benefit from a multivitamin.
The UK’s Health Food Manufacturers’ Association states that ideally, vitamins and minerals should be obtained from diet, but surveys show that is just not very probable or possible. They make the point that the wisest decision is to eat both the best food and use the best multivitamin.
The Nurses’ Health Study and Harvard’s 2008 Study
Reported in the May 5, 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Nurses’ Health Study, involving 88,818 women, found that those who drank more than one alcoholic drink per day and took multivitamins gained a protective effect against breast cancer. Scientists note alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer, but folic acid and vitamin B6 – largely consumed in multivitamins – neutralize the risk. Note: Harvard Medical School states that women drinking more than one alcoholic drink per day should get at least 600 mcg of daily folic acid for the protective effect.
Reported in the March 15, 2008 online issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, the Women’s Health Study monitored close to 38,000 women for an average of 10 years, and found that there was no overall significant association between multivitamin-use and breast cancer risk. The researchers were generally associated with Harvard Medical School.
Utilize First-Rate Food and High-Potency Multivitamins
A sensible nutrition action-plan is to seize the best of both worlds: eat healthy and take a multivitamin. Obtain rich phytochemicals from food, and let a multivitamin fill in nutritional gaps. Numerous studies link multivitamin-use to heart health and a decrease in the risk of colon cancer; multivitamins are just too essential to give up.
This is an educational article only. Seek advice from your health care professional.
Reference:
“Why You Need a Daily Multivitamin/Mineral.” Suite 101, accessed April 11, 2010.
Arlene Lengyel - Arlene is a graduate of Clayton College of Natural Health with a Doctor of Naturopathy degree. Naturopathy promotes an all-inclusive, ...
