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Vitamin supplement use and breast cancer in a North Carolina population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Patricia G Moorman ,
Mary F Ricciuti ,
Robert C Millikan  and
Beth Newman
Patricia G Moorman*
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA Current affiliation: Cancer Prevention, Detection, and Control Research Program, Room 239, Hanes House, Trent Drive, Box 2949, DukeUniversity Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
Mary F Ricciuti
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
Robert C Millikan
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Beth Newman
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology School of Public Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Email patricia.moorman@duke.edu
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Abstract

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Objective:

Laboratory data suggest that several different vitamins may inhibit the growth of mammary cancers, however epidemiologic data on the relationship between vitamin supplement use and breast cancer are inconsistent. We examined the association between self-reported vitamin supplement use and breast cancer among black women and white women.

Design and setting:

The data came from a population-based, case–control study conducted in North Carolina between 1993 and 1996. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for breast cancer associated with the use of multivitamins or individual vitamin supplements.

Subjects:

Eligible cases were aged 20 to 74, and approximately 40% of the study population were black women. The analyses included 861 cases and 790 controls.

Results:

Among all women, there was little evidence for an association between any vitamin supplement and breast cancer. Modest inverse associations were observed among white women for use of multivitamins (OR = 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–1.12), vitamin C (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.54–1.14) and vitamin E (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.49–1.13). There was no evidence that vitamin supplements reduced the risk of breast cancer among black women.

Conclusions:

This study provided very limited support for the hypothesis that vitamin supplements may reduce the risk of breast cancer. Although dietary factors are likely an important influence in breast cancer aetiology, reductions in risk are most likely to be achieved through dietary modification rather than through vitamin supplementation.

Keywords

Breast cancerEpidemiologyVitaminsDietary supplementsAntioxidantsBlacks
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , June 2001 , pp. 821 - 827
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2001

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