ascorbic-acid and Breast-Diseases

To evaluate the validity of fruit and vegetable intakes as it relates to plasma carotenoid and vitamin C concentrations in Chinese women, using three classification schemes.. Intakes were calculated using an interviewer-administered FFQ. Fruits and vegetables, botanical groups and high-nutrient groups were evaluated. These three classification schemes were compared with plasma carotenoid and vitamin C concentrations from blood samples collected within 1 week of questionnaire completion.. Shanghai, China.. Participants (n 2031) comprised women who had participated in a case-control study of diet and breast-related diseases nested within a randomized trial of breast self-examination among textile workers (n 266 064). Fruit intake was significantly (P < 0·05) and positively associated with plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α-carotene, β-carotene, retinyl palmitate and vitamin C. Fruit intake was inversely associated with γ-tocopherol and lutein + zeaxanthin concentrations. Vegetable consumption was significantly and positively associated with γ-tocopherol and β-cryptoxanthin concentrations. Each botanical and high-nutrient group was also significantly associated with particular plasma nutrient concentrations. Fruit and vegetable intakes and most plasma nutrient concentrations were significantly associated with season of interview.. These results suggest that the manner in which fruits and vegetables are grouped leads to different plasma nutrient exposure information, which may be an important consideration when testing and generating hypotheses regarding disease risk in relation to diet. Interview season should be considered when evaluating the associations of reported intake and plasma nutrients with disease outcomes.

Topics: Adult; alpha-Tocopherol; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Biomarkers; Breast Diseases; Carotenoids; Case-Control Studies; China; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Energy Intake; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fruit; gamma-Tocopherol; Humans; Linear Models; Lutein; Lycopene; Micronutrients; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Textile Industry; Vegetables; Vitamins; Workforce; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

A randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial of efficiency of a dietary supplement "Karinat" in patients with benign breast disease was carried out. Karinat contains beta-carotene 2.5 mg, alpha-tocopherol 5 mg, ascorbic acid 30 mg and garlic powder 150 mg per one tablet. Out of 66 patients, 33 patients were given karinat, 33 were given placebo. The patients reccived a tablet of karinal or placebo twice a day during 6 months. Examinations of the patients included clinical estimation of symptoms of mastopathy and dysalgomenorrhea, breast sonography and mammography. It was found that karinat reduced the severity of mastalgia, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea and algomenorrhea and caused regression of palpable symptoms of the breast fibromatosis. On the whole karinat had positive action in 75.8% that was significantly greater by 45.5% as compared with placebo. Karinat may be useful for the treatment of patients with benign breast disease.

Topics: Adult; alpha-Tocopherol; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Fibroadenoma; Humans; Mammography; Palpation; Placebos; Premenstrual Syndrome; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Mammary

In 1998-2000, a case-control study of breast cancer was conducted in Heidelberg, Germany. Three hundred ten consecutively recruited cases with primary breast cancer were matched according to 10-yr age groups to 353 controls with conditions unrelated to diet or endocrine disorders. Intake of raw vegetables, total vegetables, and whole-grain products was inversely associated with breast cancer risk (highest vs. lowest quartile adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.84; OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.38-1.02; and OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.34-0.95, respectively). Also, high intake of some selected vitamins and minerals possessing putative DNA-stabilizing properties displayed significant inverse risk associations. Adjusted ORs were as follows: vitamin C (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.2-0.88), folate equivalents (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.25-0.88), b-carotene (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.27-0.80), zinc (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.15-0.78), and copper (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.31-1.03). In contrast, no significant association with risk was seen for an increased intake of fruits, cooked vegetables, fiber, calcium, manganese, or iron. In this population of German women, components of raw vegetables and some micronutrients appear to decrease breast cancer risk.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Case-Control Studies; Copper; Diet; Dietary Fiber; DNA; Drug Stability; Edible Grain; Female; Folic Acid; Fruit; Germany; Hot Temperature; Humans; Micronutrients; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Risk Factors; Vegetables; Zinc

The effect of long term ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation (3g per day) on 27 women with early breast cancer has been investigated. For comparison a similar but limited study was carried out in patients with benign breast disease. The responses of leucocyte levels of AA to supplementation provided some evidence to suggest that the metabolism and utilisation of the vitamin may be different in these patients. In addition longitudinal measurements of urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine (OHPro/Cr) ratio were carried out in these patients. The long term ingestion of AA did not appear to affect the prognosis of the disease in the early breast cancer group. Similar 5 year survival rates were seen in the unsupplemented and supplemented cancer groups.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Creatinine; Female; Humans; Hydroxyproline; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Prognosis