Serum carotenoids, retinol, and tocopherols, and colorectal cancer risk in a Japanese cohort: effect modification by sex for carotenoids.
To examine associations of serum carotenoids, retinol, and tocopherols with colorectal cancer risk, we conducted a case-control study nested within the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. These micronutrients were measured in prediagnostic serum samples from 116 men and women who developed colorectal cancer during an 8-yr follow-up period and from 298 matched controls. In men, the higher level of serum total carotenoids was associated with a decreased risk: The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the highest vs. the lowest tertile was 0.34 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.11-1.00; trend P over tertiles = 0.040). In women, the higher levels of alpha- and and total carotenoids were instead related to an increased risk: The corresponding ORs were 4.72 (95% CI = 1.29-17.3), 2.00 (0.70-5.73), and 2.47 (0.73-8.34), respectively (trend P = 0.007, 0.040, and 0.064, respectively). We also found a somewhat decreasing risk with increased serum retinol in all subjects and alpha-tocopherol in men: The ORs (95% CI) for the highest tertiles were 0.29 (0.11-0.78; trend P over tertiles = 0.010) and 0.29 (0.07-1.17; trend P = 0.098), respectively. The effects of some carotenoids on colorectal cancer risk may be modified by sex or by factors associated with sex, including smoking and drinking habits.
Wakai
Kenji
K
Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Aichi Cancer Center institute, Nagoya 464-8681, Japan. wakai@aichi-cc.jp
Suzuki
Koji
K
Ito
Yoshinori
Y
Kojima
Masayo
M
Tamakoshi
Koji
K
Watanabe
Yoshiyuki
Y
Toyoshima
Hideaki
H
Hayakawa
Norihiko
N
Hashimoto
Shuji
S
Tokudome
Shinkan
S
Suzuki
Sadao
S
Kawado
Miyuki
M
Ozasa
Kotaro
K
Tamakoshi
Akiko
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D024505:Tocopherols