Breast cancer is the abnormal growth and uncontrolled division of cells in the tissues of the breast. These malignant cells aggregate and turn into cancerous tumors. An invasive breast tumor attacks the surrounding tissue and spreads throughout the body via the bloodstream or lymphatic system, infecting distant bodily organs. Breast cancer still remains the second-leading cause of cancer death among American women. The precise cause of breast cancer is, however, not known. But, scientists have identified several risk factors that may boost your chances of having breast cancer, including age, family history, menstrual cycle and diet. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that the use of antioxidant vitamins may reduce the incidence of breast cancer.
Vitamin A
The majority of epidemiological studies have suggested that high intake of retinol, a major derivative of vitamin A, may lower the risk of forming a new breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women with a family history of breast cancer, according to a 2000 study conducted by Patricia Moorman, of Yale University School of Medicine, which was published in the journal "Public Health Nutrition." Some common forms of breast cancers are fueled by the female sex hormone estrogen. Retinol can make existing breast cancer drugs that selectively blocks estrogen's effects, such as tamoxifen, even more powerful.
Vitamin D
Population studies suggest that vitamin D plays an important role in promoting the body's immune system, where it may offer some protection against a range of diseases, including cancers, according to the University of California Davis. In clinical studies, those taking vitamin D tablets or supplements may have a lower risk of developing breast cancer compared with those who don't take these supplements, notes UC Davis.
Vitamin B
Well-structured clinical studies suggest that adequate folate or folic acid levels, a crystalline vitamin of the B complex, may be particularly important for women who are at higher risk of developing of breast cancer, especially women who use alcohol regularly, according to Harvard School of Public Health. Alcohol is claimed to increase to a modest extent the risk of breast cancer, but that is still unsettled.
References
- The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Breast Cancer Basics
- "Public Health Nutrition"; Vitamin Supplement Use and Breast Cancer in a North Carolina Population; Patricia Moorman et al.; 2000
- University of California: Chemopreventive Compounds Induce Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells
- Harvard School of Public Health: The Nutrition Source: Keep the Multi, Skip the Heavily Fortified Foods
