Esophageal cancer
Supplements studied for esophageal cancer.
Overview
Evidence is largely observational and low trust. Black Tea (WA 36; very low effect size, medium evidence, medium trust) did not lower esophageal cancer risk; heavy intake may increase risk in some analyses. Green Tea (WA 44; very low effect size, very high evidence, medium trust; 11 studies) shows mixed prevention results, with possible benefit in women in some cohorts but not from decaffeinated capsules.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin A, and Multivitamin trials did not clearly reduce cancer risk despite some nutrient-deficiency associations. Very hot tea intake is linked to higher risk regardless of type. The heatmap and evidence reviews below cover all 11 supplements.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Vitamin A | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Zeaxanthin | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Olive Oil | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Lycopene | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Lutein | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Molybdenum | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Selenium | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Black Tea | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Multivitamin | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Iron | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
13 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
Vitamin AView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Eating more vitamin A and beta-carotene is linked to a lower chance of esophageal cancer in some studies.
- But taking vitamin A supplements with beta-carotene has not been shown to lower the risk of this cancer in clinical trials.
Browse 3 studies·3 meta-analyses
MetaThe association of dietary β-carotene and vitamin A intake on the risk of esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis2020
A meta-analysis of 14 studies found higher dietary β-carotene (OR 0.62) and vitamin A (OR 0.79) intake were associated with lower esophageal cancer risk.
- Effect
- Benefit
MetaMeta-analysis of antioxidant intake and the risk of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma2007
A meta-analysis of 10 studies found higher vitamin C (OR 0.49) and beta-carotene/vitamin A (OR 0.46) intake were inversely associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma risk.
- Effect
- Benefit
MetaAntioxidant supplements for prevention of gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis2004n=170
A meta-analysis of 14 gastrointestinal cancer prevention trials found antioxidant supplements including selenium did not reduce GI cancer incidence and beta-carotene increased mortality in high-quality trials.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Participants
- 170
LuteinView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Eating more foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin is linked to about a 29% lower risk of a common type of esophageal cancer.
- It is not clear if taking lutein supplements provides the same benefit.
Browse 1 study·1 meta-analysis
MetaCarotenoid intake and esophageal cancer risk: a meta-analysis2013n=6,487
A meta-analysis found higher intake of lutein/zeaxanthin and other carotenoids was associated with lower esophageal cancer risk (pooled OR 0.71 for lutein/zeaxanthin).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 6,487
LycopeneView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- People who eat more lycopene-rich foods, such as tomatoes, may have about a 25% lower risk of developing esophageal cancer compared with those who eat less.
Browse 1 study·1 meta-analysis
MetaCarotenoid intake and esophageal cancer risk: a meta-analysis2013n=6,487
A meta-analysis found higher intake of lutein/zeaxanthin and other carotenoids was associated with lower esophageal cancer risk (pooled OR 0.71 for lutein/zeaxanthin).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 6,487
Olive OilView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is unclear whether taking olive oil by mouth lowers the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Some studies that observed people's olive oil consumption found that those who ate more olive oil had about half the chance of getting esophageal cancer compared to those who ate less.
- More research is needed.
Browse 1 study·1 meta-analysis
MetaOlive oil intake and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis2022n=929,771
A meta-analysis of 929,771 subjects found highest vs lowest olive oil consumption associated with 31% lower overall cancer likelihood, including breast and gastrointestinal cancers.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 929,771
Vitamin B9 (Folate)View supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Eating more foods rich in folate may lower the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Research shows that people with higher folate intake have about one-third to one-half less chance of developing esophageal cancer compared to those who consume less folate.
Browse 2 studies·2 meta-analyses
MetaFolate intake, serum folate, and risk of esophageal cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis2019n=3,886
A meta-analysis of 3886 participants found that 50 μg/day the pooled odds ratios for EC in the highest versus the lowest levels of folate intake and serum folate were 0.64 (0.54-0.76, P<0.001) and 0.45 (0.19-1.07, P=0.071), respectively.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 50 μg/day
- Participants
- 3,886
MetaFolate intake, MTHFR polymorphisms, and risk of esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis2006
A meta-analysis found that these findings support the hypothesis that folate may play a role in carcinogenesis of the esophagus, stomach, and pancreas.
- Effect
- Benefit
ZeaxanthinView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if taking zeaxanthin by mouth helps prevent esophageal cancer.
- People who eat more zeaxanthin and lutein together have about a 29% lower chance of developing a type of esophageal cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.
- The benefits of supplements with zeaxanthin for this are not known.
Browse 1 study·1 meta-analysis
MetaCarotenoid intake and esophageal cancer risk: a meta-analysis2013n=6,487
A meta-analysis found higher intake of lutein/zeaxanthin and other carotenoids was associated with lower esophageal cancer risk (pooled OR 0.71 for lutein/zeaxanthin).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 6,487
Green TeaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Research on whether green tea helps prevent esophageal cancer shows mixed results.
- Most studies do not find a clear benefit overall, but some suggest women who drink green tea may have a lower risk of this cancer.
- Drinking very hot tea, regardless of type, is linked to a higher risk of esophageal cancer.
- Taking green tea capsules without caffeine for a year does not seem to prevent esophageal cancer or its early stages.
- More studies are needed to be sure.
Browse 11 studies·5 meta-analyses
MetaGreen tea consumption and risk for esophageal cancer: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis2021n=332
A dose-response meta-analysis of 14 studies found higher green tea consumption associated with lower esophageal cancer risk in non-smokers but not in smokers.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 332
MetaGreen tea (Camellia sinensis) for the prevention of cancer2020n=1,795
A Cochrane review found very low-certainty evidence that green tea may reduce some cancer risks, with no clear effect on overall cancer incidence.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 1,795
MetaGreen Tea Consumption and Esophageal Cancer Risk: A Meta-analysis2019
A meta-analysis of 20 studies found higher green tea consumption associated with lower esophageal cancer risk in cohort studies but not in case-control studies.
- Effect
- Benefit
RCTLong-term green tea extract supplementation does not affect fat absorption, resting energy expenditure, and body composition in adults2015n=60
In 60 adults (ages 18–50), 12 weeks of green tea extract (>0.56 g/day EGCG) did not change fecal fat absorption, resting energy expenditure, or body composition versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Dose
- 0.56 g/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 60
- Ages
- 18–50
MetaEffects of green tea, black tea, and coffee consumption on the risk of esophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies2013
A meta-analysis found green tea associated with lower esophageal cancer risk (OR 0.77 overall; 0.70 in case-control studies), while black tea showed no significant association (OR 1.35).
- Effect
- Benefit
MetaGreen tea consumption and risk of esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis of published epidemiological studies2013
A meta-analysis of 12 observational studies found no clear overall link between green tea and esophageal cancer (pooled RR 1.09 for highest vs lowest intake), though subgroup analysis suggested lower risk in women (RR 0.46).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Women
MetaGreen tea consumption and risk of esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies2012n=33,731
A meta-analysis of 10 epidemiologic studies (33,731 participants) found no overall association between green tea and esophageal cancer, but high intake was linked to lower risk in women (RR/OR 0.32–0.45).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Participants
- 33,731
ObservationalGreen tea drinking, high tea temperature and esophageal cancer in high- and low-risk areas of Jiangsu Province, China: a population-based case-control study2009
In a Chinese case-control study (1,520 cases, 3,879 controls), drinking tea at high temperature raised esophageal cancer risk; green tea itself was not protective after adjusting for temperature.
- Effect
- No Benefit
RCTIntervention and follow-up on human esophageal precancerous lesions in Henan, northern China, a high-incidence area for esophageal cancer2002n=23
In 200 adults with esophageal precancerous lesions in Henan, China, 5 mg/day decaffeinated green tea for 12 months did not reduce lesion severity or abnormal cell proliferation versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- 5 mg/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 23
Green tea and cancer in humans: a review of the literature1998
A narrative review of 31 human green tea studies found mixed cancer associations across sites, with the strongest inverse evidence for esophageal cancer.
ObservationalReduced risk of esophageal cancer associated with green tea consumption1994n=902
In a Shanghai case-control study of 902 adults (ages 30–74), green tea consumption was associated with lower esophageal cancer risk in women (OR 0.50) and in non-smoking, non-drinking men and women.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 902
- Ages
- 30–74
MolybdenumView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if molybdenum supplements help prevent esophageal cancer.
- Studies suggest that people who get too little molybdenum in their diet may be more likely to develop esophageal cancer, but taking molybdenum supplements has not been proven to lower this risk.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalNail molybdenum and zinc contents in populations with low and moderate incidence of esophageal cancer2008n=40
An observational study comparing nail molybdenum and zinc in Iranian populations found higher levels in low esophageal-cancer-incidence areas, suggesting a possible protective association.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 40
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)View supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if taking riboflavin (vitamin B2) by mouth lowers the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Studies in Iran found that low riboflavin levels were linked to double the risk of this cancer.
- But studies in China showed that taking riboflavin, alone or with other vitamins and minerals, for several years did not lower cancer risk in people with early esophageal changes.
- It is not known if these results apply to people in other countries.
Browse 5 studies
ObservationalRiboflavin deficiency and esophageal cancer: a case control-household study in the Caspian Littoral of Iran2005n=57
An observational study of 57 found that 0.43 mg/day odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were also calculated.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 0.43 mg/day
- Participants
- 57
RCTEffects of vitamin/mineral supplementation on the prevalence of histological dysplasia and early cancer of the esophagus and stomach: results from the General Population Trial in Linxian, China1994n=29,584
In 391 Linxian adults, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium reduced total and stomach cancer mortality during intervention but did not lower esophageal/gastric dysplasia prevalence at endoscopy.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 29,584
RCTPrevention of esophageal cancer: the nutrition intervention trials in Linxian, China. Linxian Nutrition Intervention Trials Study Group1994n=391
A randomized trial of 391 adults found that we have reported separately that cancer mortality over the entire 5.25-year period was significantly reduced among those receiving beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 6 years
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 391
RCTStudies on medicamentous inhibitory therapy for esophageal precancerous lesions--3- and 5-year inhibitory effects of antitumor-B, retinamide and riboflavin1990
A randomized trial of 2531 (ages 3–5) found that treatment was continued for 3 or 5 years (administration rate greater than 90% in all groups) and esophageal cytology reexamined (reexamination rates were 94.1% and 92.5% respectively).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 3 years
- Dose
- 2 g/day
- Ages
- 3–5
RCTNo effect of riboflavine, retinol, and zinc on prevalence of precancerous lesions of oesophagus. Randomised double-blind intervention study in high-risk population of China1985n=610
A randomized trial of 610 found that 50 mg the intervention did not affect the prevalence of oesophageal lesions: after one year, the prevalence of oesophagitis with or without atrophy or dysplasia was 45.3% in the placebo group and 48.9% in the vitamin/zinc treated group.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 13.5 months
- Dose
- 50 mg
- Participants
- 610
- Ages
- 35–64
Black TeaView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Research shows that drinking more black tea does not lower the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Some studies suggest that drinking large amounts of strong black tea could actually double the risk of this cancer compared to drinking less black tea.
Browse 2 studies·1 meta-analysis
ObservationalTea drinking and the risk of esophageal cancer: focus on tea type and drinking temperature2020
In a Chinese case-control study, drinking tea >65°C significantly raised esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk (OR 1.67); black tea consumption was associated with higher risk regardless of amount.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 300 g/day
MetaEffects of green tea, black tea, and coffee consumption on the risk of esophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies2013
A meta-analysis found green tea associated with lower esophageal cancer risk (OR 0.77 overall; 0.70 in case-control studies), while black tea showed no significant association (OR 1.35).
- Effect
- No Benefit
SeleniumView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- There is little evidence that taking selenium supplements alone or with other vitamins lowers the chance of developing esophageal cancer.
Browse 2 studies·1 meta-analysis
MetaAntioxidant supplements for prevention of gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis2004n=170
A meta-analysis of 14 gastrointestinal cancer prevention trials found antioxidant supplements including selenium did not reduce GI cancer incidence and beta-carotene increased mortality in high-quality trials.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Participants
- 170
RCTEffects of vitamin/mineral supplementation on the prevalence of histological dysplasia and early cancer of the esophagus and stomach: results from the General Population Trial in Linxian, China1994n=29,584
In 391 Linxian adults, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium reduced total and stomach cancer mortality during intervention but did not lower esophageal/gastric dysplasia prevalence at endoscopy.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 29,584
IronView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if taking iron pills can help prevent esophageal cancer.
- Studies show people who take iron supplements have about a 32% lower risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, but iron use does not appear to reduce the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Browse 1 study
Clinical trialA prospective study of vitamin and mineral supplement use and the risk of upper gastrointestinal cancers2014n=4,420
In 490,593 NIH-AARP participants followed 11 years, multivitamin or single vitamin/mineral supplement use was not associated with altered risk of upper gastrointestinal cancers.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Participants
- 4,420
- Ages
- 50–71
MultivitaminView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It’s not clear if taking multivitamins helps prevent or treat esophageal cancer.
- In a large study, adults with early signs of esophageal cancer took high-dose multivitamins and minerals daily for six years, but after 35 years, they weren’t any less likely to die from cancer—or from any cause—than those who took a placebo.
- Experts say there isn’t enough evidence to know if multivitamins help prevent cancer, and they advise against using beta-carotene or vitamin E for this purpose.
Browse 2 studies
RCTMortality after multivitamin supplementation: Nearly 35-year follow-up of the randomized Linxian Dysplasia Nutrition Intervention Trial2022
Nearly 35-year follow-up of the Linxian trial found multivitamin supplementation did not reduce long-term mortality in the original cohort.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 6 years
- Population
- Adults
- Ages
- 40–69
GuideVitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement2022
A USPSTF evidence review found insufficient evidence that multivitamin or mineral supplementation prevents cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy adults.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Adults
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Tea | ★★★★★44% | 11 | 5 | 33% |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | ★★★★★40% | 5 | 0 | 15% |
| Vitamin A | ★★★★★52% | 3 | 3 | 9% |
| Black Tea | ★★★★★36% | 2 | 1 | 6% |
| Multivitamin | ★★★★★28% | 2 | 0 | 6% |
| Selenium | ★★★★★36% | 2 | 1 | 6% |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | ★★★★★48% | 2 | 2 | 6% |
| Iron | ★★★★★28% | 1 | 0 | 3% |
| Lutein | ★★★★★48% | 1 | 1 | 3% |
| Lycopene | ★★★★★48% | 1 | 1 | 3% |
| Molybdenum | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 3% |
| Olive Oil | ★★★★★48% | 1 | 1 | 3% |
| Zeaxanthin | ★★★★★48% | 1 | 1 | 3% |