Cervical cancer
Supplements studied for cervical cancer.
Overview
Supplement research for cervical cancer focuses mainly on prevention markers rather than treatment outcomes. Lycopene shows mixed observational links between higher dietary or blood levels and lower cervical cancer or precancer risk.
Vitamin A supplements alone do not clearly reduce cervical cancer risk despite some dietary associations. Green Tea extract did not clear high-risk HPV or improve early cervical changes in one four-month trial. Astragalus-containing herbal combinations with chemotherapy showed improved tumor response in low-quality Chinese studies. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Vitamin A | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Lycopene | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Astragalus | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Nattokinase | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Lutein | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
7 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
LycopeneView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Some studies show that women with higher lycopene levels in their diet or blood may have a lower risk of developing cervical cancer or precancerous changes.
- But other research has not confirmed this link, so the evidence is mixed.
Browse 7 studies
ObservationalDiet and serum micronutrients in relation to cervical neoplasia and cancer among low-income Brazilian women2010n=231
A hospital-based case-control study of 605 Brazilian women found higher serum lycopene inversely associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 1–3 and invasive cancer, with OR 0.18 for highest vs lowest tertile for invasive cancer.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 231
ObservationalRelationship of serum antioxidant micronutrients and sociodemographic factors to cervical neoplasia: a case-control study2009n=378
A multi-center case-control study of 862 Korean women found significantly lower serum beta-carotene, lycopene, and alpha-tocopherol in cervical cancer patients, with inverse dose-response trends across neoplasia severity.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 378
ObservationalDietary intake and blood levels of lycopene: association with cervical dysplasia among non-Hispanic, black women1998n=32
A case-control study of 32 Black women with cervical dysplasia found upper-tertile dietary lycopene and vitamin A intake associated with roughly one-third the odds of dysplasia, though results did not reach conventional significance.
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 32
ObservationalThe relations between cervical cancer and serological markers of nutritional status1994
A Latin American case-control study of cervical cancer found lower serum lycopene, retinol, and lutein in cases, with some nutrients showing stage-related trends suggesting possible disease effects on blood levels.
- Population
- Women
ObservationalSerum micronutrients and the subsequent risk of cervical cancer in a population-based nested case-control study1993n=15,161
A nested case-control study of 15,161 women followed 1975–1990 found lower prediagnostic serum carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene) associated with higher cervical cancer risk (OR up to 3.1 for lowest vs highest tertile).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 15,161
ObservationalA case-control study of nutrient status and invasive cervical cancer. II. Serologic indicators1991
A case-control study of 387 invasive cervical cancer cases across four Latin American countries found higher beta-carotene associated with lower risk (adjusted OR 0.72, highest vs lowest quartile) after adjusting for HPV and other confounders.
- Effect
- No Benefit
ObservationalDietary and serum carotenoids and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia1991n=102
A matched case-control study of 102 women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia found lowest-quartile serum and dietary lycopene associated with 3.5–5.8-fold higher CIN odds compared with highest quartile.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 102
Vitamin AView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is uncertain if taking vitamin A by mouth helps prevent cervical cancer.
- Some research shows that having higher levels of vitamin A or eating foods with vitamin A might be linked to a lower risk, but taking vitamin A supplements alone does not seem to reduce the chance of getting cervical cancer.
Browse 2 studies·2 meta-analyses
MetaDietary Vitamin A Intake and Circulating Vitamin A Concentrations and the Risk of Three Common Cancers in Women: A Meta-Analysis2022
A meta-analysis of 49 studies found higher dietary vitamin A intake was associated with lower breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer risk in women (pooled OR 0.83 for diet/supplements), but circulating vitamin A showed no significant association.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
MetaVitamin A and risk of cervical cancer: a meta-analysis2012n=12,136
A meta-analysis of 11 studies (12,136 participants) found total vitamin A intake (OR 0.59) and blood vitamin A (OR 0.60) were inversely associated with cervical cancer risk.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 12,136
AstragalusView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Combining Astragalus-containing herbal medicines with chemotherapy may help treat cervical cancer by improving tumor response, patient performance, and reducing side effects, based on several small studies.
- The evidence mostly comes from low-quality studies in China, so more research is needed.
Browse 1 study·1 meta-analysis
RCTAstragalus-Containing Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With Chemotherapy for Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2021
A meta-analysis of 19 cervical cancer RCTs found astragalus-containing Chinese herbal medicine plus chemotherapy increased tumor response and performance status and reduced chemotherapy toxicity.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
LuteinView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Studies show that eating less lutein is not linked to a higher risk of cervical cancer.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalThe association of plasma micronutrients with the risk of cervical dysplasia in Hawaii1998
In 338 Hawaiian women, higher plasma alpha-cryptoxanthin and alpha-tocopherol were inversely associated with cervical SIL risk (OR ~0.3 for highest vs lowest quartile), independent of HPV status.
- Population
- Women
- Ages
- 18–65
NattokinaseView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- A study in Chinese women in Singapore found that eating more soy foods might reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
- Soy contains natural compounds that could help protect against cancer but more research is needed.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalSoy and tea intake on cervical cancer risk: the Singapore Chinese Health Study2019
In the Singapore Chinese Health Study, higher soy and tea intake was not clearly associated with lower cervical cancer incidence.
- Population
- Women
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)View supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if taking riboflavin (vitamin B2) by mouth helps prevent cervical cancer.
- A study found that getting more riboflavin and other B vitamins from food and supplements may lower the chance of developing early, precancerous changes in the cervix.
- More evidence is needed.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalDiet and premalignant lesions of the cervix: evidence of a protective role for folate, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B122003
An observational study in women found that the odds ratios for LSIL and HSIL were reduced by 50-90% for the highest compared to the lowest levels of intake of these nutrients.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
Green TeaView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Research shows that taking green tea extract capsules daily for 4 months does not help clear high-risk HPV virus or improve early cervical changes in women with HPV infection.
- Laboratory studies suggest green tea ingredients might slow cervical cancer cell growth however this hasn’t been seen in clinical studies.
- More research is needed to understand if green tea can help prevent cervical cancer.
Browse 1 study
RCTResults of a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Polyphenon E in women with persistent high-risk HPV infection and low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia2014n=98
In a phase II RCT of 98 women with HPV and CIN1, Polyphenon E 800 mg/day for 4 months did not significantly increase HPV clearance versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 4 months
- Dose
- 800 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 98
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lycopene | ★★★★★48% | 7 | 0 | 50% |
| Vitamin A | ★★★★★48% | 2 | 2 | 14% |
| Astragalus | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 1 | 7% |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★32% | 1 | 0 | 7% |
| Lutein | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 7% |
| Nattokinase | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 7% |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 7% |