Breast Cancer And Vitamins B6 & B12

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women and, according to the American Cancer Society, affects 12 percent of the female population. Research has indicated that vitamins and nutrition may play a protective role in breast health. Although as of 2011 there is no conclusive evidence that vitamins B-6 and B-12 are effective in breast cancer prevention, observational studies suggest that deficiencies in these nutrients may be associated with heightened risk.

Breast Cancer

Because of improved screening techniques, medical treatment and advances in public health, rates of breast cancer incidence and mortality have declined since the 1990s. However, invasive breast cancer still affects approximately one in eight women, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 39,520 deaths from breast cancer in 2011. Breast cancer risk is linked to genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, smoking, reproductive history, hormone replacement therapy, obesity and age. Although clear connections to diet have not been firmly established, according to the CDC, researchers are continuing to investigate the relationship between breast cancer risk and nutrition, and particular attention has been placed on the protective role of B complex vitamins, such as B-6 and B-12.

B-6

Your body requires B-6 for more than 100 enzymes involved in protein metabolism. This water-soluble nutrient is also needed for red blood cell formation and the function of the immune and nervous systems. B-6 derives from a variety of food sources, such as meat, poultry, fish, beans and legumes, as well as potatoes, bananas, spinach, avocado and tomatoes. The National Institutes of Health recommends that adult women consume a minimum of 1.3 mg of B-6 per day, and the Institute of Medicine advises that daily consumption not exceed 100 mg, because excess amounts can result in nerve damage.

Breast Cancer and B-6

Evidence on the relationship between breast cancer and B-6 is mixed. A prospective study published in March 1999 in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention" examined 195 breast cancer cases and matched controls and found no association between B-6 intake status and cancer incidence. However, findings published in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute in March 2003" suggest that higher levels of B-6 may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

B-12

Also known as cobalamin, B-12 is vital to red blood cell formation, neurological function and DNA synthesis. B-12 is also involved in hormone production and the metabolism of fat and proteins. Dietary B-12 occurs naturally in animal products, such as meat, fish, poultry and dairy, and is also commonly added to fortify grains and breakfast cereals. Dietary recommendations hold that adult women should intake a minimum of 2.4 mcg per day.

Breast Cancer and B-12

While the 1999 prospective study found no link between B-6 and breast cancer, researchers did observe that women with low levels of B-12 had a greater cancer risk than those with high amounts of the nutrient. This finding suggests that B-12 may reduce cancer risk. A March 2006 case-control study of 475 Mexican women published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention" similarly found that high intake of B-12 was associated with lower breast cancer risk. Although these findings are promising, more research is required to fully establish whether B-12 effectively modifies risk.