Food and Cancer

Medical experts havesuspected for many years that there is a strong link between what a person eatsand

cancer. They say anew study provides the first evidence that vitamins could reduce a person'schance of

developing cancer. Ateam of Chinese and American scientists did the study.They are from American

National CancerInstitute and the Cancer Institute of the ChineseAcademy of Medical Sciences in Beijing.

The Journal of theNational Cancer Institute published the results of the study. About thirtythousand people

between the ages of40 to 69 took part in the study.They were from the northern central Chinesearea of

Linxian.Most of themtook vitamins and minerals everyday for five years.

Linxian was chosenbecause the people there have an extremely high rate of cancer of stomach and

esophagus.Researchersbelieve that fungus and molds in local foods may be partly responsible for thehigh

cancerrate.Researchers divided those people into eight groups.Seven of the groupsreceived different

mixtures of vitaminsand minerals daily.The amounts of the vitamins and minerals were 1 to 2 timesgreater

than what Americanhealth officials say is needed.The eighth group received sugar pills that hadno effect.

Those who seemed togain the most received a mixture of a form of vitamin A calledβ-carotene,vitamin E

and the mineralselenium（硒）.The vitaminand mineral are believed to prevent damage to cells caused by

cancer-causingsubstances.Researchers reported a 1 3 percent drop in cancer rates in those whotook

β-carotene,vitaminE and selenium.They also found a 10 percent drop in the number of deaths causedby

strokes frombursting blood vessels.

Scientists warn thatit is too soon to know if the effect would be the same among people in other

countries.They notethat the people in Linxian eat foods that lack necessary vitamins andminerals.Chinese

officials willcontinue to record the health records of the people in Linxian for manyyears.For now officials

reportedly areconsidering using the results of the study.They want to find a way to improvethe health of

people in Linxianand other small towns in China.The study lastedfor about five years.

A.Right

B.Wrong

C.Not mentioned