This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Increased vitamin C intake reduced breast cancer mortality risk
In women with breast cancer, an increased consumption of vitamin C in the diet was associated with reduced mortality risk, according to recent findings.
Additionally, a post-diagnostic daily regimen of vitamin C supplementation may confer survival benefits.
In the meta-analysis, researchers conducted a literature search of the PubMed database for relevant prospective studies through Feb. 6, 2014. The 10 studies selected for inclusion presented RRs with 95% CIs for at least two categories. The investigators constructed random-effects models to pool study-specific outcomes.
The 10 selected studies evaluated the use of vitamin C supplementation and dietary consumption of vitamin C and encompassed a combined 17,696 breast cancer cases, 2,791 deaths and 1,558 deaths due to breast cancer.
Post-diagnosis vitamin C use was associated with a summary RR of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72-0.91) for total mortality and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74-0.99) for breast cancer-specific mortality.
A 100 mg per day increase in dietary vitamin C consumption had a summary RR of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.59-0.89) for total mortality and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.64-0.94) for mortality specifically related to breast cancer.
According to the researchers, studies evaluating vitamin C intake in patients with breast cancer have been relatively sparse.
“The association between dietary vitamin C intake and breast cancer survival is inconsistent and few studies have specifically examined vitamin C supplement use among women with breast cancer,” the researchers wrote. “Results from this meta-analysis suggest that post-diagnosis vitamin C supplement use may be associated with a reduced risk of mortality. Dietary vitamin C intake was also statistically significantly associated with a reduced risk of total mortality and breast cancer-specific mortality.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.