title: Micronutrients and laryngeal cancer risk in Italy and Switzerland: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relation between various micronutrients and laryngeal cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted in Italy and Switzerland between 1992 and 2000. Cases were 527 patients with incident cancer of larynx, admitted to the major teaching and general hospitals of the study areas. Controls were 1297 subjects admitted for acute, non-neoplastic diseases to the same network of hospitals. Dietary habits were assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant inverse relations emerged between laryngeal cancer risk and intake of vitamin C (OR = 0.2, for the highest versus the lowest intake quintile; 95% CI: 0.2-0.4), beta-carotene (OR = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.2-0.4), alpha-carotene (OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2-0.5), lutein/zeaxanthin (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.6), vitamin E (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.6), beta-criptoxanthin (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.5), folic acid (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.6), thiamin (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.6), glutathione (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4-0.8), reduced glutathione (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.8), vitamin B6 (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9) and potassium (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9). Direct associations were found with zinc (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.2) and vitamin D (OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.6). Combining low intakes of vitamin C, carotene, vitamin E, and folate with heavy smoking and drinking led to ORs between 80 and 170.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides further support that, independently from smoking and alcohol consumption, the intake of several micronutrients, including selected antioxidants, is inversely related to laryngeal cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Epidemiologia, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy. epidemiology@cro.it
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bidoli
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bosetti
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parpinel
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Luigino Dal
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Maso
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D014815:Vitamins; D002338:Carotenoids; D005492:Folic Acid; D011188:Potassium; D014975:Lutein