Ovarian cancer
Supplements studied for ovarian cancer.
Overview
Green Tea (WA 68; medium effect size, high evidence, high trust) has medium-strength observational evidence linking higher green or black tea intake to reduced ovarian cancer risk, with roughly 36% lower risk in highest versus lowest drinkers and stronger associations with two or more cups daily; it does not appear to prevent recurrence. Lycopene (WA 44; low effect size, medium evidence, low trust), Vitamin A (WA 52; low effect size, high evidence, medium trust), Olive Oil (WA 40; low effect size, evidence, and trust), and Quercetin (WA 40; low effect size, evidence, and trust) have low-strength or inconsistent dietary associations.
Most evidence is observational rather than from intervention trials. The heatmap and evidence reviews below summarize studies.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
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.
Green TeaView supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Drinking tea, especially green or black tea, is linked to reduced ovarian cancer risk.
- People who drink the most green tea have about a 36% lower risk compared to those who drink very little or none.
- Drinking at least 2 cups a day may reduce risk by nearly half.
- Drinking more tea for longer seems to further lower the risk.
- However, green tea doesn’t appear to prevent ovarian cancer from coming back once someone has had it.
Browse 5 studies·1 meta-analysis
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
Clinical trialA two-stage, single-arm, phase II study of EGCG-enriched green tea drink as a maintenance therapy in women with advanced stage ovarian cancer2013n=46
A two-stage phase II trial in 46 women with advanced ovarian cancer found EGCG-enriched green tea drink feasible as maintenance therapy after chemotherapy response.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 18 months
- Dose
- 500 mL/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 46
MetaMeta-analysis of green tea drinking and the prevalence of gynecological tumors in women2013n=9,113
A meta-analysis of observational studies (9,113 participants) linked higher green tea consumption to lower prevalence of gynecological tumors in women.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 9,113
ObservationalTea consumption and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based cohort2005n=57
In 61,057 Swedish women followed 15.1 years, each additional cup of tea per day was associated with 18% lower epithelial ovarian cancer risk; ≥2 cups/day had HR 0.54 versus seldom/never drinkers.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 57
- Ages
- 40–76
ObservationalTea consumption and ovarian cancer risk: a case-control study in China2002n=254
In a Chinese case-control study, increasing green tea frequency and duration reduced ovarian cancer risk (OR 0.23 for >30 years); black and oolong tea associations were not significant.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 254
Vitamin AView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Most studies show that eating more vitamin A is associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
- A review found that people with the highest vitamin A intake from food or supplements have about a 19% lower chance of getting ovarian cancer compared to those who eat the least.
- It’s not certain if taking vitamin A supplements alone helps prevent ovarian cancer.
Browse 3 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
MetaDietary vitamin A intake and the risk of ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis2020n=443,179
A meta-analysis of 443179 participants found that a positive association between dietary vitamin A intake and ovarian cancer risk was found (RR = 0.816, 95%CI = 0.723-0.920, I2 = 48.4%, Pfor heterogeneity = 0.019).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 443,179
ObservationalRisk of ovarian carcinoma and consumption of vitamins A, C, and E and specific carotenoids: a prospective analysis2001n=80,326
An observational study of 80326 women found that the multivariate relative risks (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for ovarian carcinoma among women in the highest versus lowest quintile of intake were 1.04 (95% CI, 0.72-1.51) for vitamin A from foods and supplements; 1.01 (95% CI, 0.69-1.47) for vitamin C; 0.88 (95% CI,.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 80,326
LycopeneView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Some studies show that eating foods rich in carotenoids, such as lycopene from tomatoes, may lower the risk of ovarian cancer before menopause.
- But other studies don't find any benefit.
Browse 3 studies
ObservationalIntake of the major carotenoids and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies2006n=521,911
A pooled analysis of 10 cohorts (521,911 women, 2,012 ovarian cancer cases) found no significant association between intake of lycopene or other major carotenoids and epithelial ovarian cancer risk.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 521,911
- Ages
- 7–22
ObservationalCarotenoids, antioxidants and ovarian cancer risk in pre- and postmenopausal women2001
A case-control study of 549 ovarian cancer cases and 516 controls found higher dietary lycopene inversely associated with ovarian cancer risk, especially in premenopausal women, along with alpha-carotene.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Postmenopausal women
ObservationalProspective study of serum micronutrients and ovarian cancer1996n=67
A nested case-control study of 35 ovarian cancer cases and 67 controls found no significant association between prediagnostic serum carotenoids including lycopene and subsequent ovarian cancer development.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 4 months
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 67
Black TeaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Drinking tea regularly, including black or green tea, is linked with a lower chance of developing ovarian cancer.
- Large population studies show that people who drink tea have about a 14% lower risk of ovarian cancer compared to those who rarely or never drink tea.
- The strongest benefits are seen in long-term studies and in certain countries like the United States and Sweden.
- Tea contains natural antioxidants that may protect cells and reduce cancer risk.
- Drinking at least two cups of tea daily seems particularly beneficial vs. lower intake.
Browse 2 studies
ObservationalTea consumption and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based cohort2005n=57
In 61,057 Swedish women followed 15.1 years, each additional cup of tea per day was associated with 18% lower epithelial ovarian cancer risk; ≥2 cups/day had HR 0.54 versus seldom/never drinkers.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 57
- Ages
- 40–76
ObservationalTea consumption and ovarian cancer risk: a case-control study in China2002n=254
In a Chinese case-control study, increasing green tea frequency and duration reduced ovarian cancer risk (OR 0.23 for >30 years); black and oolong tea associations were not significant.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 254
Olive OilView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not certain if eating olive oil lowers the chance of getting ovarian cancer.
- Some population studies suggest that people who eat more olive oil have a lower risk of developing ovarian cancer.
- More research is needed to confirm this.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalOlive oil, seed oils and other added fats in relation to ovarian cancer (Italy)2002n=1,031
An Italian case-control study of 1031 ovarian cancer cases and 2411 controls found highest olive oil intake associated with 32% lower ovarian cancer risk (OR 0.68) versus lowest intake.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 1,031
QuercetinView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if taking quercetin by mouth helps prevent ovarian cancer.
- One large study found no link between how much quercetin people eat and their risk of ovarian cancer.
- More studies are needed to understand this better.
Browse 1 study
Clinical trialA prospective study of dietary flavonoid intake and incidence of epithelial ovarian cancer2007n=66,940
In 66,940 women followed up to 18 years, higher kaempferol and luteolin intake was associated with 40% and 34% lower ovarian cancer risk, respectively; total flavonoids showed no clear association.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 66,940
SeleniumView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Research shows that eating foods with selenium or taking selenium supplements does not affect the chance of getting ovarian cancer.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalA case-control study of diet and the risk of ovarian cancer2004n=577
A Canadian case-control study found higher long-term vitamin E, beta-carotene, and B-complex supplement use associated with lower ovarian cancer risk.
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 577
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.