Increased
intake of the antioxidant vitamins C and E could cut the risk of kidney
cancer by 28 and 44 per cent, respectively, says a new study from
Italy. ?In the present study, based on a large dataset and with
extensive information on major sources of vitamins and micronutrients in
the Italian population, an inverse relation was observed between
vitamin E and vitamin C intake and RCC risk,? wrote lead author Cristina
Bosetti from Milan’s Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche, ?Mario
Negri?. The multi-centre case-control study, published in the
International Journal of Cancer, assessed the dietary intakes of 767
renal cell cancer patients (494 men and 273 women) and 1,534 controls
(988 men and 546 women) using a 78-item food frequency questionnaire
(FFQ) from which micronutrient intakes were calculated. After adjusting
the results to eliminate possible confounding factors, such as age, BMI,
sex, smoking habits and alcohol consumption, the researchers calculated
that an intake of more than 17.5 micrograms per day of vitamin E was
associated with a 44 per cent reduced risk of renal cell cancer,
compared to those with an intake of, on average, 11.9 micrograms. They
also report an intake of more than 186 micrograms per day of vitamin C
was associated with a 44 per cent reduced risk of renal cell cancer,
compared to those with an intake of, on average, 89.4 micrograms. This
result, said the researchers, was of borderline significance. No
statistically significant association was observed for any of the the
other micronutrients analysed, including retinol (vitamin A), alpha and
beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamin D, thiamine, folate, and
other B vitamins, and lycopene. The mechanism behind the potential
protective effects was not investigated by the researchers, but they
state that the antioxidant activity of the vitamins could explain the
benefits. They do state, however, that since the main sources of vitamin
E in the Italian diet are olive oil and vegetables, and may reflect a
wider effect of these foods.
Category: Productos
Source: NutraIngredients