Iron status and risk of cancers in the SU.VI.MAX cohort.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation between iron status and cancer in a population of middle-aged adults living in France where iron supplementation and iron-fortified foods are rarely used. The SU.VI.MAX study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled primary prevention trial evaluating the effect of antioxidant supplementation on chronic diseases in women aged 35-60 and men aged 45-60 y. At baseline, concentrations of hemoglobin, serum transferrin and serum ferritin were measured in 10,197 subjects. Data on dietary intake were estimated from six 24-h dietary records completed during the first 2 study years and available for 5287 subjects. All cancer cases that occurred during the 7.5-y follow-up were validated. In men, baseline serum transferrin and serum ferritin concentrations did not differ between subjects with cancers (n = 467) and those without. In women, serum ferritin was higher (P < 0.0001) and serum transferrin tended to be lower (P < 0.08) in cancer cases. Iron status was not related to cancer risk in men, but women with serum ferritin concentrations > 160 microg/L had an increased risk of cancer (odds ratio = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.05,3.35). No relation was found between dietary iron intake and risk of all cancer sites combined for either men or women. Our results suggest that iron status is not a predictor of cancer risk in men, whereas a serum ferritin concentration > 160 microg/L may be associated with an increase in cancer risk in women.
Hercberg
Serge
S
U557 Inserm (UMR Inserm/Inra/CNAM), Institut Scientifique et Technique de la Nutrition et de l'Alimentation/CNAM, F-75003 Paris, France. hercberg@cnam.fr
Estaquio
Carla
C
Czernichow
Sébastien
S
Mennen
Louise
L
Noisette
Nathalie
N
Bertrais
Sandrine
S
Renversez
Jean-Charles
JC
Briançon
Serge
S
Favier
Alain
A
Galan
Pilar
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010919:Placebos; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D010919:Placebos; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron