Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society, which says the chance a woman will develop breast cancer at some time is about one in eight. Garlic is a traditional herbal remedy that may help lower your chances of developing breast cancer; if you already have the illness, it may improve your likelihood of recovery. Consult your doctor to discuss whether taking garlic is a good strategy for you.
Risk Factors
Although the exact cause of breast cancer is not well understood, out-of-control growth of breast cells leads to the disease. Some risk factors include being over 55 years of age, having a genetic factor such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, having a family history of the disease or being treated at some time with either radiation to the breast area or the drug diethylstilbestrol. Some lifestyle factors also raise the risk of breast cancer, including not having children or having them later in life, having recently used birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, being obese or using alcohol to excess.
Garlic
Garlic, or Allium sativum, has been a part of traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years. When crushed, garlic cloves produce a natural chemical called allicin, which has properties that make it medicinally active. Allicin is a strong antioxidant, capable of destroying free radicals in your body. These metabolic by-products can damage cell membranes and cellular DNA, potentially triggering abnormal cell division that may lead to cancer. Garlic may also strengthen your immune system, supporting your body's natural cancer-fighting mechanisms.
Evidence
A number of laboratory studies have investigated whether compounds in garlic might control growth of breast cancer cells. In one study, published in March 2011 in "Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry," garlic-derived compounds suppressed division of these cells and caused their death. Although clinical studies of garlic and breast cancer are still lacking, a review of garlic as a possible protective agent for other cancers, published in 2000 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," suggested that high intake of garlic may protect against some cancers. These are promising findings, but clinical trials of garlic and breast cancer are still needed.
Recommendations and Precautions
The active ingredient in garlic, allicin, is not well-absorbed by your digestive tract. For this reason, supplements often contain fermented or aged garlic extract that have usable components derived from allicin. These products are available in capsules or tablets from health food stores. The recommended dosage of aged extract is 600 to 1,200 mg daily, divided into several doses. Garlic is generally considered safe, although it may cause mild gastric upset and it may interact with some medications, such as blood thinners and protease inhibitors. Discuss use of garlic with your doctor before adding it to your regimen.
References
- American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer Overview
- American Cancer Society: How Many Women Get Breast Cancer?
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Garlic
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
- "Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry"; Anticancer Effects of Garlic and Garlic-Derived Compounds for Breast Cancer Control; A. Tsubura et al.; March 2011
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Garlic Consumption and Cancer Prevention: Meta-Analyses...; A. Fleischauer et al.; October 2000
