Vitamin B May Ward Off Breast Cancer

BOSTON -- It's well-documented that folic acid can help prevent birth defects and colorectal cancer, but now researchers say having high levels of folate and another vitamin may also reduce your risk of breast cancer.

With more than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer expected this year, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have discovered a new way to lower your risk of getting the disease.

"We discovered women who had the highest level of folate, they had a 27 percent reduction in risk of breast cancer compared to women with the lowest folate level," Brigham and Women's Hospital Dr. Shumin Zhang said.

The nearly 30 percent reduction came from folate and vitamin B-6, found in many foods. Diet is the best source of both.

"Leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, asparagus are very good for folate. Oranges, orange juice and B-6 is found in bananas and also broccoli," Brigham and Women's Hospital Dr. Linda Antinoro said.

But the new study found that a daily multivitamin ensures the right amount, and is especially important for women whose breast cancer risk is higher because they drink moderate amounts of alcohol.

"We found alcohol only increases your risk of breast cancer if you have a low folate level, so if you choose to consume alcohol, you probably want to monitor your folate intake and make sure you have an adequate folate level," Zhang said.

Denise Tucker, now 33 weeks pregnant, has taken folic acid supplements her entire pregnancy and found the news particularly encouraging.

"My mother had breast cancer in the fall, and now that I know that I've already been doing something positive for my body I would just naturally continue taking the folic acid so that I'll be around to see my grandchildren," Tucker said.

Sources Of Folic Acid

• Product 19 (1 cup) -- 400 mcg
• Total Cereal (3/4 cup) -- 400 mcg
• Brewer's Yeast (1 T) -- 313 mcg
• Chick peas and black eye beans (1 cup) -- 282 mcg
• Lentils, boiled (1/2 cup) -- 179 mcg
• Pinto beans (1/2 cup) -- 147 mcg
• Asparagus, boiled (1/2 cup) -- 132 mcg
• Spinach, boiled (1/2 cup) -- 131 mcg
• Orange juice (1/2 cup) -- 109 mcg
• Wheat Germ (1/4 cup -- 100 mcg
• Most ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (1 cup) -- 100 mcg
• Romaine lettuce, shredded (1 cup) -- 76 mcg

Sources Of Vitamin B-6

• Pork
• Organ meats
• Whole grains
• Wheat germ
• Oatmeal
• Potatoes
• Legumes
• Bananas