Frequent Use of Vitamins E and C Linked to Reduced Breast Cancer Recurrence

Wow! Look at this study showing vitamins E and C to be protective. There is concern that antioxidant supplement use during chemotherapy and radiation therapy may decrease treatment effects, yet the effects of such supplements on recurrence and survival are largely unknown.


Antioxidant supplement use after diagnosis was reported by 81% of women. Among antioxidant users, frequent use of vitamin C and vitamin E was associated with a 27%  and 29% decreased risk of BC recurrence respectively; and vitamin E use was associated with a 24% decreased risk of all-cause mortality. CONVERSELY frequent use of combination carotenoids was associated with increased mortality.


Greenlee H, Kwan ML, et al.

Antioxidant supplement use after breast cancer diagnosis and mortality in the Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) cohort. [JOURNAL ARTICLE] Cancer 2011 Sep 27.