Does vitamin e reduce the risk of breast cancer?

No

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by Karel Kinnett

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 186,467 women contracted breast cancer in 2005. Ninety-five percent of these cases were in women over the age of 40. Sixty-six percent of women who develop breast cancer are over the age of 55. About one million women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide every year.

With such a high prevalence of breast cancer among women, it is understandable that there have been many studies to determine the causes and to find cures for breast cancer. There have been many theories about what causes cancer, bust most have been debunked.

There has been some evidence that Vitamin E reduces the risk of cancer in some individuals. According to the National Cancer Institute, Vitamin E does not protect women against breast cancer. A 10-year Women's Health Study was conducted between 1992 and 2004 at Harvard Medical School. In a double-blinded study,the women, all over the age of 45, were given a 600 IU dose of Vitamin E or a placebo.

Of the over 39,000 women studied, 2,865 developed cancer. About half of these women were in the Vitamin E group, and the other half were in the placebo group. 1,228 of these women developed breast cancer. Approximately half were in each group. Obviously, Vitamin E does not significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer.

There doesn't seem to be any risk in women taking Vitamin E supplements. The National Institute of Health recommends that women take 15 mg(22.5 IU) a day. Vitamin E can be found in almonds, eggs, corn oil, wheat germ oil, sunflower oil, sweet potatoes, and hazelnuts, among other foods. Vitamin E has some great benefits, including protecting your cells against free radicals and DNA repair. While Vitamin E does not appear to protect women from breast cancer, The American Cancer Society did a 10 yr study that found that Vitamin E does reduce the risk of bladder cancer.

While it is not known what causes breast cancer, there are certain risk factors associated with breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer is higher in women who have blood relatives with it. White women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than African American women. Women with dense breasts and those who had their periods early have a higher risk of breast cancer. Women who drink 2-5 alcoholic drinks a day increase their risk of breast cancer.

There are a few ways to lower your breast cancer risk. If you are overweight, losing a few pounds will reduce your chances of developing breast cancer. Women with a higher risk of breast cancer may choose to undergo testing to see if they carry the breast cancer gene. Having an annual mammogram and breast exam will help detect breast cancer while it is in the early stages.

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