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Cancer Causes & Control
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control 10/2011

01-10-2011 | Original paper

Retinol, vitamins A, C, and E and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis and meta-regression

Authors: Hu Fulan, Jiang Changxing, Wang Yi Baina, Zhang Wencui, Lin Chunqing, Wang Fan, Li Dandan, Sun Dianjun, Wang Tong, Pang Da, Zhao Yashuang

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 10/2011

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Abstract

Objective

To comprehensively summarize the associations between retinol, vitamins A, C, and E and breast cancer, and quantitatively estimate their dose–response relationships.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases (from January 1982 to 15 March 2011) and the references of the relevant articles in English with sufficient information to estimate relative risk or odds ratio and the 95% confidence intervals, and comparable categories of vitamins. Two reviewers independently extracted data using a standardized form, with any discrepancy adjudicated by the third reviewer.

Results

Overall, 51 studies met the inclusion criteria. Comparing the highest with the lowest intake, total vitamin A intake reduced the breast cancer risk by 17% (pooled OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.78–0.88). Further subgroup analysis based on study design did not change the significant reduction. Although the dietary vitamin A, dietary vitamin E, and total vitamin E intake all reduced breast cancer risk significantly when data from all studies were pooled, the results became nonsignificant when data from cohort studies were pooled. The significant association between total retinol intake and breast cancer in all studies became nonsignificant in case–control studies but remain significant in cohort studies. No significant dose–response relationship was observed in the higher intake of these vitamins with reduced breast cancer risk.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that both the total intake of vitamin A and retinol could reduce breast cancer risk. However, associations between other vitamins and breast cancer seem to be limited.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Retinol, vitamins A, C, and E and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis and meta-regression
Authors
Hu Fulan
Jiang Changxing
Wang Yi Baina
Zhang Wencui
Lin Chunqing
Wang Fan
Li Dandan
Sun Dianjun
Wang Tong
Pang Da
Zhao Yashuang
Publication date
01-10-2011
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 10/2011
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9811-y

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