Several Nutrients Important for Bladder Health

A new study investigated the association between dietary intake of several nutrients and the risk of developing bladder cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2009 there were 70,980 new cases of bladder cancer and 14,330 deaths from bladder cancer. Approximately 90 percent of people with this cancer are over the age of 55, and it is much more common in men than in women.

In this new study, researchers evaluated dietary intake of vitamins and minerals in 322 individuals with bladder cancer and 239 healthy individuals as the control group using a food-frequency questionnaire.

The results showed that the individuals with the highest intake of vitamin E had a 34 percent reduction in relative risk of developing bladder cancer compared to the individuals with the lowest intake. Additionally, the individuals with the highest intake of phosphorus showed a decrease in risk of bladder cancer by 51 percent compared to those with the lowest intake.

Furthermore, when the researchers looked at older individuals, they found that as the intake of carotenoids, vitamin D, thiamin, niacin and vitamin E increased, the risk of developing bladder cancer decreased. The researchers also found that in heavy smokers, those with the highest intake of vitamin E reduced their risk of developing bladder cancer by 42 percent, those with the highest intake of carotenoids decreased the risk by 38 percent and those with the highest intake of niacin reduced the risk by 34 percent.

The study authors concluded, “Our findings suggest further investigation of the effect of vitamin E, carotenoids, vitamin D, thiamin, and niacin on bladder cancer risk may be warranted. Future studies should focus on high risk groups such as heavy smokers and older individuals.”

Reference:

Brinkman MT, Karagas MR, Zens MS, Schned A, Reulen RC, Zeegers MP. Minerals and vitamins and the risk of bladder cancer: results from the New Hampshire Study. Cancer Causes Control. 2009 Dec 31. Published Online Ahead of Print.