New Evidence Found of How Vitamins Prevent Cancer
 (Washington, Reuters Health, 3/29/04)

Stephanie Weinstein of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and team, reviewed data from 29,133 male participants in a Finnish smoker's study, in which scientists had taken blood samples at the outset and then had assigned subjects to take vitamins to determine whether supplements prevent cancer. Focusing on the blood levels of E prior to supplementation, Weinstein’s team analyzed the records of 100 of the study participants who had prostate cancer and 200 who did not. The researchers found an association between high blood levels of vitamin E and a decreased risk of prostate cancer. The investigators then compared the effect of two forms of vitamin E: 1) alpha tocopherol, a form of E best absorbed from foods like sunflower seeds, almonds, sweet peppers and spinach; and 2) gamma tocopherol, a less active form. Each of the forms of the vitamin appeared to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and supplementation further minimized the risk.

In another study, Dr. Xifeng Wu of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, John Radcliffe of Texas Woman's University in Houston and associates studied 1000 subjects, 468 of whom had bladder cancer. The scientists analyzed the diet of each participant and estimated the intake of alpha-tocopherol and gamma tocopherol from both food and supplements. The researchers found that subjects with diets richest in alpha tocopherols had a reduced risk of bladder cancer; whereas, gamma tocopherol intake was not associated with a significant decrease in bladder cancer risk.