Aspirin cuts breast cancer risk

That little wonder drug is at it again.

A new piece of US research backs the idea that aspirin protects against certain types of breast cancer.

It found women who used aspirin or similar painkillers at least once per week for six months reduced their risk of breast cancer by 20%.

However, the University of Columbia researchers say it is too soon to advise women to start taking aspirin against breast cancer, however.

Their findings appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Vitamins 'increase cholesterol'

Vitamins could actually increase levels of "bad cholesterol", researchers have suggested.
It had been thought that vitamins could protect the heart.

But New York University researchers found vitamins including E, C and beta carotene stop the liver breaking down an early form of bad cholesterol.

Writing in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers say their findings mean they cannot recommend that people use the vitamins.

Source BBC News

Vitamins 'do not prevent cancer'

Your background, rather than your diet influences whether you get cancer or heart disease, according to research.

A study by the Universities of Bristol and London suggests eating antioxidant vitamins does not prevent the diseases.

Factors like living in deprived social circumstances and whether you are a smoker, rather than taking vitamin supplements, affect susceptibility.

However, people who have diets rich in vitamins A, C and E are less likely to have suffered deprived circumstances.

Bristol University's Dr Debbie Lawlor and colleagues reviewed previous studies and undertook new research for the study.

Source BBC News