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| |  Vitamin E May Help Protect Against Colon Cancer WASHINGTON, MD -- November 5, 1997 -- Vitamin E is listed among nutrients that may help prevent colon cancer, according to a Canadian study of how diet affects colon cancer. The study, reported in Cancer magazine, found evidence dietary Vitamin E intake appears to be strongly protective against colon carcinoma. The study focused on how different diets affect the risk of colon cancer in humans. The study found diets high in fat and meat increase the risk for colon cancer. Conversely, diets high in fiber and nutrients from fruit and vegetables decrease the risk of colon cancer. "There is strong evidence from epidemiologic studies that high intake of fat and meat are risk factors for colorectal carcinoma in humans, whereas high intake of vegetables and fruit are inversely associated with risk of colon carcinoma," Dr. Parvis Ghadirian, an author of the study, said. Dr. Ghadirian, from the Epidemiologic Research Unit at the University of Montreal, added his study supported those previous findings. The four-year study of 1,070 people, 402 of whom had colon cancer, focused particularly on the role of Vitamin E as an antioxidant. The study suggested much of Vitamin E's protective role comes from its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are compounds that protect the body from the formation of oxygen free-radicals. Those are unstable oxygen molecules that can line the interior of blood vessels and restrict blood flow. Formation of free radicals can lead to a number of diseases. Vitamin E has been the subject of other recent health studies, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, that found that Vitamin E may help prevent heart disease, many forms of cancer, kidney disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, can fight Alzheimer's disease and strengthens immune systems in the elderly. The richest food sources of Vitamin E are vegetable oils, margarine, wheat germ, most nuts and most vegetables, especially the green, leafy kind. Because many of those sources -- with the exception of most vegetables – are high in fat, a number of experts have recommended a daily supplement of 100 to 400 IU (international units). Numerous experts agree the Recommended Daily Allowance of 15 IU for men and 12 IU for women is not enough for long-term health benefits and recommend taking a daily supplement. The Canadian study focused only on foods and recommended a healthy diet in the prevention of colon cancer. "Findings from this study reinforce the importance of the increased intake of vegetables and, to a lesser extent, fruits and cereals, in the prevention of colorectal carcinoma," the study said.
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