A new study reveals that the consumption of many cruciferous vegetables as carrots and cabbage may help to reduce African women’s exposure to breast cancer.

Researchers of the Black Women's Health Study investigated the impact of fruit and vegetable consumption of African women on their risk of getting a very aggressive form of breast cancer.

The so-called estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers which are most common among African females are more aggressive due to their high lethal rate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declares that breast cancer represents the second most occurring death causing cancer to African American as well as white women. As environmental factors may affect the prevention of this cancer types, researchers examined if a prudent diet benefit women.

The diets of 50,000 African American women, living in the US, were documented over a period of 12 years. 35 % of a number of 1,300 of all researched women who got affected by breast cancer within this period developed ER-negative breast cancer.

The women who regularly consumed vegetables benefited with a 43% lower exposure to ER-negative breast cancer. The vegetables that proved to be most beneficial belong to the group of cruciferous vegetables.

If the vegetable consumption must be interpreted as a sign of healthier lifestyle that contributed to cancer prevention or if the vegetable consumption has been part of an effective cause-and effect-relationship against cancer must be further studied.

Boston University member, Dr. Deborah A. Boggs, commented the study: "It is clear that, in addition to potential protective effects against breast cancer, higher vegetable consumption can lead to many health benefits, including lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we recommend that African American women try to increase their daily intake of vegetables to meet the established guidelines."