Vitamins and carotenoids intake and the risk of basal cell carcinoma of the skin in women (United States).
OBJECTIVE
We examined prospectively intakes of vitamins A. C, and E, folate, and specific carotenoids in relation to the risk of basal cell carcinoma of the skin (BCC) in women.


METHODS
Dietary intake was assessed by food-frequency questionnaires every two-four years and the first diagnosis of BCC was ascertained by self-report every two years. We used logistic regression to model the association between dietary intake and the risk of BCC adjusting for various health, sun exposure, and sun sensitivity factors.


RESULTS
During 12 years of follow-up we recorded 5392 cases. We did not find any significant inverse associations between these dietary factors and BCC. On the contrary. weak positive trends were seen with vitamins A, C, and E, and folate. The multivariate relative risks (RRs) comparing the top to bottom quintile were 1.20 (95% CI = 1.10-1.31) for folate, 1.16 (95% CI = 1.06-1.26) for vitamin A. 1.13 (95% CI = 1.03-1.23) for vitamin C, and 1.15 (95% CI = 1.06-1.26) for vitamin E. Exploration of latency periods did not suggest different associations with a particular duration.


CONCLUSIONS
We did not find evidence that vitamins A, C, and E. and folate. or specific carotenoids play an important protective role against the incidence of BCC.
Fung
Teresa T
TT
Department of Nutrition, Simmons College, Boston, MA 02115, USA. fung@simmons.edu
Hunter
David J
DJ
Spiegelman
Donna
D
Colditz
Graham A
GA
Speizer
Frank E
FE
Willett
Walter C
WC
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid