High Folate and Vitamin B-6: Breast Cancer News

According to preliminary research conducted by Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), women may reduce their chances of developing breast cancer by increasing their intake of vitamin B-9 (otherwise known as folate or folic acid) and vitamin B-6.

As an added benefit, a woman consuming two or more drinks each day benefit by taking higher levels of folate.

How Vitamins Fight Breast Cancer
For years researchers have known folate helped prevent birth defects in children when mothers took up to 800 mg during pregnancy. Now, researchers at BWH report folate may also benefit women by reducing their risk of breast cancer. Consumption of vitamin B-6 also proved helpful in preventing breast cancer in some women, though the results on B-6 were more prevalent among menopausal women.

Just how helpful is this powerhouse combination of vitamins? According to the study, women taking folate and B-6 reduced the risk of breast cancer by up to 27 percent in some cases. While not all women will experience the same reduction of risk, there is hope for women suffering from breast cancer.

Adding Vitamin B-6 and Folate to Your Diet
There are many ways to supplement your diet with extra vitamin B-6 and folate. You can always take these vitamins b-6 as a supplement, though most doctors recommend that women try to increase their intake of foods high in these nutrients. Good examples of foods high in these nutrients include dark green leafy vegetables and grains. Fortified grains and cereals specifically contain high levels of folate.

If you prefer to take a supplement or do not always eat well, ask your doctor if you should supplement your current diet or vitamin routine with additional folate and B-6. Most women take extra folic acid during pregnancy and breastfeeding. According to the results of this study, it may make sense to continue supplementation well into women's post-menopausal years.