A prospective study of plasma ascorbic acid concentrations and breast cancer (United States).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between prediagnostic plasma ascorbic acid concentrations and subsequent breast cancer risk in a nested case-control study.


METHODS
Female volunteer residents of Washington County, MD, donated 14,625 non-fasting blood samples in 1989. Incident breast cancer cases (n = 115) and controls (n = 115) were matched by age, menopausal status at donation, and date and hour of blood donation.


RESULTS
Median ascorbic acid concentrations were similar between cases and controls (1.44 mg/dl vs. 1.39 mg/dl. p = 0.78). There was no evidence for a dose-response relationship between higher plasma ascorbic acid concentrations and breast cancer risk [highest vs. lowest fifths: ORadjusted = 0.90, Ptrend = 0.98).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this prospective study do not suggest a protective association between prediagnostic plasma ascorbic acid concentrations and breast cancer risk in the subsequent 5 years of follow-up.
Wu
K
K
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Helzlsouer
K J
KJ
Alberg
A J
AJ
Comstock
G W
GW
Norkus
E P
EP
Hoffman
S C
SC
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008593:Menopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001205:Ascorbic Acid