Prospective study of carotenoids, tocopherols, and retinoid concentrations and the risk of breast cancer.
Previous prospective studies have raised the possibility that the antioxidantproperties of carotenoids and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and the role of vitamin A (retinol) in cellular differentiation may be associated with a reduced risk of subsequent breast cancer. To investigate the association between serum and plasma concentrations of retinol, retinyl palmitate, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, total-carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol with subsequent development of breast cancer, a nested case control study was conducted among female residents of Washington County, Maryland, who had donated blood for a serum bank in 1974 or 1989. Cases (n = 295) and controls (n = 295) were matched on age, race, menopausal status, and date of blood donation, and the analyses were stratified by cohort participation. Median concentrations of beta-carotene, lycopene, and total carotene were significantly lower in cases compared with controls in the 1974 cohort (13.1, 12.5, and 7.9% difference; P = 0.01, 0.04, and 0.04, respectively) and for lutein in the 1989 cohort (6.7% difference; P = 0.02). The risk of developing breast cancer in the highest fifth was approximately half of that of women in the lowest fifth for beta-carotene [odds ratio (OR) = 0.41; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-0.79; P trend = 0.007], lycopene (OR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.29-1.06; P trend = 0.04), and total carotene (OR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.29-1.03; P trend = 0.02) in the 1974 cohort. There was generally a protective association for other micronutrients in both cohorts, although none reached statistical significance. The results suggest that carotenoids may protect against the development of breast cancer.
Sato
Reiko
R
Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Helzlsouer
Kathy J
KJ
Alberg
Anthony J
AJ
Hoffman
Sandra C
SC
Norkus
Edward P
EP
Comstock
George W
GW
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012176:Retinoids / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016387:Women's Health
D000975:Antioxidants; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018977:Micronutrients; D012176:Retinoids; D014815:Vitamins; D002338:Carotenoids; D024505:Tocopherols