Vitamin B6 May Reduce the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Women

Vitamin B6 May Reduce the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Women

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Vitamin B6 and Colorectal Cancer?

For women who are concerned about their familial risk of colorectal cancer, taking a daily supplement of Vitamin B6 may be helpful.

Studies suggest that 40% of women and 20% of men don’t obtain enough vitamin B6 in their diets.

A sentinel study published by Wei et al, 2005 suggests that vitamin b6 intake may be inversely associated with the risk of developing colorectal cancer in women.

Study Conclusions:

“CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that vitamin B6 may be inversely associated with risk of colorectal neoplasia” ( Wei et al, 2005).

However, newer research suggests that the importance of adequate vitamin B6 intake in reducing your risk of developing colorectal cancer isn’t limited to women alone.  A newer study published in the Journal of American Medicine found a dose-response relationship between vitamin B6 levels and colorectal cancer risk in both men and women (Larsson et al 2010).

Study Conclusions:

“The findings from this meta-analysis of prospective studies indicate that increased blood PLP levels are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.  Overall, the risk of colorectal cancer decreased by 49% for every 100-pmol/mL increase in blood PLP level, corresponding to approximately 2 SDs in the majority of the studied population.”

* Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), the principal active coenzyme form of vitamin B6

References:

  1. Wei EK, Giovannucci E, Selhub J, Fuchs CS, Hankinson SE, Ma J. Plasma vitamin B6 and the risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma in women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005 May 4;97(9):684-92.
  2. Larsson SC, Orsini N, Wolk A.  Vitamin B6 and risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.  JAMA. 2010 Mar 17;303(11):1077-83.
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