To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: No Association Found Between Cornstarch Perineal Powders and Ovarian Cancer Risk URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1D158E.htm Doctor's Guide May 11, 2000
WHITE PLAINS, NY -- May 11,2000 -- The study, "Perineal Powder Containing Cornstarch," published in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology states that, "Due to the nature of cornstarch, it would not be expected that there would be any association between perineal cornstarch use and ovarian cancer, and there is no evidence of any association." The paper represents the most comprehensive review ever of research on feminine powders, which almost 40 percent of women apply. The findings of John Whysner, M.D., Ph.D., and Melissa Mohan of the Toxicology and Risk Assessment Program of the American Health Foundation (AHF) are released on the heels of the Harvard University Nurses' Health Study results, published in a recent issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. That landmark study found only a modest increase in risk of ovarian cancer from talc use in the most common and most lethal form of the disease - serous ovarian cancer. Gail Hayward, founder and president of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), says that publication of the AHF study should "put to rest any possible concerns about the safety of cornstarch powder use for women." Dr. Whysner states in the paper that, "Cornstarch is an alternative to talc for perineal powders." In addition, he has stated, "Cornstarch is the way that the corn plant stores energy. It's also the starch that is used in food products, and the body can digest cornstarch. Talc, on the other hand, is a mineral. It's mined from the earth, and the body has a difficult time removing it." This comprehensive review of studies investigating the relationship between cornstarch-containing perineal powder and possible health effects found that there was none. "Reports of recent studies suggesting an association between talc feminine powders and ovarian cancer sometimes failed to differentiate between different types of powders. Unfortunately, this raised an unsubstantiated fear in the millions of women who use talc-free, cornstarch-based feminine powders in their daily routine," says Dr. Stephen Pennisi, vice president of toxicology and product safety for Combe Incorporated, maker of Vagisil(R) Feminine Powder, a talc-free powder that contains cornstarch. He adds, "As this paper states, 'In contrast to the studies on talc powders, there is no epidemiologic evidence associating perineal powder containing cornstarch with ovarian cancer.' Publication of this paper by the American Health Foundation should set the record straight, so that physicians, who have patients concerned about controlling feminine odor and wetness, can comfortably state that cornstarch powders are safe to use." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.