Positive Health Online

Abstract

FLEISCHAUER and colleagues, Department of Epidemiology, CB7435, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA, have studied dietary antioxidants, supplements, and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer .

Background

Several studies on dietary antioxidant micronutrients (vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene) suggest protection against ovarian cancer that may be achieved by higher levels . No studies have, however, examined vitamin supplements .

Methodology

A food frequency questionnaire with additional questions about supplements was used on 168 epithelial ovarian cancer patients, on 159 community controls, and on 92 hospital-based control patients . Antioxidant consumption from both diet and supplements was calculated.

Results

In multivariate analysis, the highest levels of total intake of vitamins C and E from supplements were protective ; consumption of antioxidants from diet alone was unrelated to risk . The levels associated with protection against ovarian cancer were well above the current US Recommended Dietary Allowances: above 363 mg/day for vitamin C, and above 75 mg/day for vitamin E .

Conclusion

These findings support the hypothesis that the antioxidant vitamins C and E from supplements are related to a reduced risk of epithelial ovarian cancer .

References

Fleischauer AT, Olson SH, Mignonne L, Simonsen N, Caputo TA, Harlap S. Dietary antioxidants, supplements, and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. Nutrition and Cancer 40 (2): 92-98, 2001.

Comment

That vitamin E succinate inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis of colon cancer cells, and that antioxidant vitamins C and E from supplements are protective against epithelial ovarian cancer are highly significant results. I sincerely hope that the EU and CODEX scientific committees read the results of such research while they contemplate eliminating such potentially life-saving supplements from consumer use. Issue 83