Vitamin B6 Lowers Colorectal Cancer Risk

STOCKHOLMVitamin B6 intake and blood pyridoxal-phosphate (PLP) levels were inversely associated with the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a new study from Swedens National Institute of Environmental Medicine.

The findings, published in Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzed 13 other U.S., European and Asian studies conducted between 2002 and 2009. While taking vitamin B6 supplements did not appear to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, increases in the level of PLP in the bloodstream were associated with an inversely lower risk of colorectal cancer. The studies that compared the effects of taking weak to high doses of vitamin B6 also showed a statistically significant 21-percent reduction in colorectal cancer risk at higher doses.