Vitamins C and E linked to lower kidney cancer risk

Increased intake of the antioxidant vitamins C and E could cut the risk of kidney cancer by 28 and 44 per cent, respectively, says a new study from Italy.

“In the present study, based on a large dataset and with extensive information on major sources of vitamins and micronutrients in the Italian population, an inverse relation was observed between vitamin E and vitamin C intake and RCC risk,” wrote lead author Cristina Bosetti from Milan’s Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche. The multi-centre case-control study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, assessed the dietary intakes of 767 renal cell cancer patients (494 men and 273 women) and 1,534 controls (988 men and 546 women) using a 78-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) from which micronutrient intakes were calculated. After adjusting the results to eliminate possible confounding factors, such as age, BMI, sex, smoking habits and alcohol consumption, the researchers calculated that an intake of more than 17.5 micrograms per day of vitamin E was associated with a 44 per cent reduced risk of renal cell cancer, compared to those with an intake of, on average, 11.9 micrograms. They also report an intake of more than 186 micrograms per day of vitamin C was associated with a 44 per cent reduced risk of renal cell cancer, compared to those with an intake of, on average, 89.4 micrograms.

The study does have several notable limitations, including relying on food frequency questionnaires to gather dietary information.

Bonnie - I agree that there are limitations to this study, but the reduced risk percentages were significant.