Use of vitamin supplements and risk of total cancer and cardiovascular disease among the Japanese general population: A population-based survey
2011

Vitamin Supplements and Cancer/CVD Risk in Japan

Sample size: 62629 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Hara Azusa, Sasazuki Shizuka, Inoue Manami, Shimazu Taichi, Iwasaki Motoki, Sawada Norie, Yamaji Taiki, Ishihara Junko, Iso Hiroyasu, Tsugane Shoichiro

Primary Institution: National Cancer Center, Japan

Hypothesis

Does the pattern of vitamin supplement use affect the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease in the Japanese population?

Conclusion

Vitamin supplement use has little effect on cancer or cardiovascular disease risk in men, but consistent use may reduce CVD risk in women while past and recent use may increase cancer risk.

Supporting Evidence

  • Consistent vitamin supplement use in women was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Past and recent vitamin supplement use in women was linked to a higher risk of cancer.
  • Men showed no significant association between vitamin supplement use and cancer or cardiovascular disease risk.

Takeaway

This study looked at how taking vitamin supplements affects health. It found that for men, it doesn't really help with cancer or heart disease, but for women, taking vitamins regularly might help their hearts, while taking them sometimes could be linked to more cancer.

Methodology

The study followed 62,629 participants from two surveys about vitamin supplement use and tracked cancer and CVD cases over several years.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to non-responders in the second survey.

Limitations

Differences in questionnaires between surveys may have led to misclassification of vitamin supplement use.

Participant Demographics

Participants were Japanese adults aged 40-69, with a mix of men and women.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.01

Confidence Interval

95% CI 0.41-0.89

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2458-11-540

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