文章
杏林專欄 > Vitamins and Breast Cancer

Vitamins and Breast Cancer

19-08-2013

 

Written by Sally Shi Po Poon (Registered Dietitian)

A Swedish study found that women who regularly took multivitamins were 19% more likely to develop a breast cancer than those who did not take multivitamins1.  35,329 women aged 49 to 83 years old took part in that study and were followed up for 10 years. The research found that women who had taken multivitamins for three years or more and those who took seven or more multivitamins a week were at increased risk of breast cancer compared to non-users.

At present, the link between multivitamin use and breast cancer risk remains uncertain and further study is warranted to clarify that. If so, it is also important to identify which component(s) of the multivitamin supplements are responsible. 

Most of us should be able to meet our recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals from a balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods. The World Cancer Research Funds recommends not using supplements to protect cancers because scientists cannot be certain that we get the same benefit if we consume nutrients in this form2. Research also shows that taking high doses of some supplements could be harmful to our health. However, some groups of people may benefit from taking supplements. For instance, women who could become pregnant are advised to take a folic acid supplement from before conception until the 12th week of pregnancy in a view to preventing the risk of developing neural tube defects. 

Reference:

1.         Larsson SC, Åkesson A, Bergkvist L and Wolk A. Multivitamin use and breast cancer incidence in a prospective cohort of Swedish women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010 May;91(5):1268-72
2.         http://www.wcrf-uk.org
 
 

疑難排解

會員註冊


或許你會想看
《冷凍切片》
冷凍切片(frozen section 或 FS) 是一種用於手術途中的病理切片診斷。它的用途非常廣泛,不同專 […]
【癌症治療】癌症患者如何面對長期疲勞
  癌症相關疲勞(Cancer-related Fatigue, CRF)是許多癌症存活者在治療期間 […]
【胃癌治療】 「胃癌治療新技術?來聽聽這些多學科專家怎麼說!」活動回顧|抗癌防癌全球視野GCOG
2024年1月27日 北京時間晚上 8 時,由香港大學知識交流辦公室主辦,全球腫瘤協作組(GCOG), 香 港 […]
【鼻咽癌治療】 「鼻咽癌治療新技術?來聽聽這些多學科專家怎麼說!」活動回顧|抗癌防癌全球視野GCOG
香港,2024年2月24日 – 由香港大學知識交流辦公室主辦,全球腫瘤協作組(GCOG)、香港大學 […]
【癌症檢查】甲狀腺有癌指數嗎?| 黎逸玲醫生
如何測出甲狀腺癌 時常有病人問我:有沒有癌指數可以測出甲狀腺癌? 我的回答是:可以說有,也可以說沒有。 先說簡 […]
無用|黃曉恩醫生
向患上癌症的病友和家人解釋過治療方案後,很多都會問道:「醫生,這個治療會不會『無用』呢?」將心比己,這實在是一 […]
當下的妙|黃曉恩醫生
有說:「當對音樂的熱愛到達一個程度,就不會甘於只做聽眾,卻渴望上台演出。」這實在是作為業餘音樂愛好者如我的寫照 […]
蝴蝶|黃曉恩醫生
我是腫瘤科醫生,她是乳癌病人。我卻不是她的醫生:我們兩年前在「恩典同行小組」──瑪麗醫院癌症病友關懷小組裡遇上 […]
港九新界一日遊|黃曉恩醫生
在公營醫療系統工作的臨床醫生大多都是駐診於一間醫院:主要的工作都在這裡進行,只是間中需要到其他醫院看診或開會。 […]
輕輕的她走了|黃曉恩醫生
「唉!我快要死了!」她嬌嗔道。 四十出頭的她是我的新病人。一年多前她確診第四期乳癌,轉移到肝臟和骨骼,在公立醫 […]
腦中的練習|黃曉恩醫生
小時候,敬愛的鋼琴老師大概不忍我因為資質平庸而灰心,對我不厭其煩地循循善誘:令鋼琴技術進步的不二法門就是不斷練 […]
醫生掉眼淚|黃曉恩醫生
你別管我骨子裡是樂觀還是悲觀(或許我自己都說不清),反正我喜歡逗人樂,面對我的腫瘤科病人亦然。我明白罹癌絕對不 […]