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Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
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The vitamins and minerals we get from food are necessary for our health
and well-being and contribute to protecting us from cancer. These vital
substances can also be found in supplements, but that doesn't mean
you can pop a pill and ignore your diet.
A healthy diet should provide the full range of vitamins and minerals
needed in the most usable form, together with others that may be
required for them to function effectively. Fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains also provide additional substances -- phytochemicals -- that are
not present in multivitamin supplements but play an important role in
inhibiting cancer development and growth. These foods also contain
fiber which contributes to general health and may be indirectly involved
in lowering breast cancer risk.
Certain vitamins are believed to be important in reducing breast cancer
risk and recurrence. Folate appears to be protective, and depletion of
this vitamin by alcohol consumption is suspected of playing a role in the
link between alcohol and breast cancer risk. Vitamin A and its precursor
forms are thought to play a role in lowering the risk for breast cancer.
But again, this is vitamin A from food sources, as supplemental vitamins
may not function the same way as those in foods. In a study on lung
cancer, for example, vitamin A supplements were found to increase
incidence of the disease, particularly among those who smoked, even
though eating fruits and vegetables high in vitamin A was known to
lower the risk of getting this disease.
There is considerable evidence linking low blood levels of vitamin D to
increased breast cancer risk, recurrence and mortality. Because
insufficient vitamin D is also suspected of playing a role in other
diseases, efforts are underway to determine if recommendations for the
daily intake of vitamin D should be increased.
Vitamin D is one vitamin it might be wise to consider taking as a
supplement in low levels for those at risk for breast cancer, especially in
northern areas in the winter. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight,
but it is also present in fish, eggs, and fortified cereal and milk products.
While preventing breast cancer is not a reason to take vitamin and
mineral supplements, doctors may recommend them for other health
needs. Getting sufficient calcium, for example, along with the vitamin D
our bodies need to use it is particularly important for women to prevent
osteoporosis.
Caution:
High doses of vitamins A, C and E can interfere with chemotherapy and
radiation and decrease the effectiveness of these treatments.
Megadoses of vitamins have not been proven as an effective treatment
for any type of cancer.
and well-being and contribute to protecting us from cancer. These vital
substances can also be found in supplements, but that doesn't mean
you can pop a pill and ignore your diet.
A healthy diet should provide the full range of vitamins and minerals
needed in the most usable form, together with others that may be
required for them to function effectively. Fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains also provide additional substances -- phytochemicals -- that are
not present in multivitamin supplements but play an important role in
inhibiting cancer development and growth. These foods also contain
fiber which contributes to general health and may be indirectly involved
in lowering breast cancer risk.
Certain vitamins are believed to be important in reducing breast cancer
risk and recurrence. Folate appears to be protective, and depletion of
this vitamin by alcohol consumption is suspected of playing a role in the
link between alcohol and breast cancer risk. Vitamin A and its precursor
forms are thought to play a role in lowering the risk for breast cancer.
But again, this is vitamin A from food sources, as supplemental vitamins
may not function the same way as those in foods. In a study on lung
cancer, for example, vitamin A supplements were found to increase
incidence of the disease, particularly among those who smoked, even
though eating fruits and vegetables high in vitamin A was known to
lower the risk of getting this disease.
There is considerable evidence linking low blood levels of vitamin D to
increased breast cancer risk, recurrence and mortality. Because
insufficient vitamin D is also suspected of playing a role in other
diseases, efforts are underway to determine if recommendations for the
daily intake of vitamin D should be increased.
Vitamin D is one vitamin it might be wise to consider taking as a
supplement in low levels for those at risk for breast cancer, especially in
northern areas in the winter. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight,
but it is also present in fish, eggs, and fortified cereal and milk products.
While preventing breast cancer is not a reason to take vitamin and
mineral supplements, doctors may recommend them for other health
needs. Getting sufficient calcium, for example, along with the vitamin D
our bodies need to use it is particularly important for women to prevent
osteoporosis.
Caution:
High doses of vitamins A, C and E can interfere with chemotherapy and
radiation and decrease the effectiveness of these treatments.
Megadoses of vitamins have not been proven as an effective treatment
for any type of cancer.
For more information:
The Facts About Supplements
American Institute for Cancer Research
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D
Office of Dietary Supplements
American Cancer Society
The Facts About Supplements
American Institute for Cancer Research
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D
Office of Dietary Supplements
American Cancer Society
