HHS HealthBeat (November 28, 2008)

Vitamins, women, and cancer

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

From protecting against birth defects to helping to keep the immune system strong, B vitamins including folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 can do women good. And there have been some signs the vitamins could lower the risk of cancer. So researchers checked at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dr. JoAnn Manson and colleagues looked at total cases of spreading cancer and cases of breast cancer and deaths from cancer.

``High-dose supplements of folic acid and B vitamins do not appear to reduce the risk of cancer.’’ (9 seconds)

Researchers say women can take vitamins for other reasons – just don’t expect them to reduce the risk of cancer.

The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss

Last revised: December, 01 2008