title: Oral and pharyngeal cancer, diet, smoking, alcohol, and serum vitamin A and beta-carotene levels: a case-control study in men.
abstract: A case-control study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia. Forty-one men with histologically confirmed squamous cell oral or pharyngeal cancer were compared with 398 male community controls. A statistically significant increase in risk was found for alcohol (ethanol) consumption and for smoking, and there was a synergistic effect for these two exposures. Statistically significant protection was noted with increasing intake of dietary vitamin C, dietary beta-carotene, fruit, vegetables, and dietary fiber. The mean serum levels of beta-carotene and vitamin A were statistically significantly lower when the cases were compared with another set of 88 male controls of a similar age who were hospitalized for minor surgical operations. This study confirms a causal effect of smoking and alcohol and a protective role for a high dietary intake of fruit, vegetables, cereals, and, particularly, beta-carotene- and vitamin C-containing foods.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kune
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kune
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merenstein
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vitetta
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014675:Vegetables; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids