Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.
OBJECTIVE
The association between consumption of fruit and vegetables and risk of ovarian cancer is still unclear from a prospective point of view.


METHODS
Female participants (n = 325,640) of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study, free of any cancer at baseline, were followed on average for 6.3 years to develop ovarian cancer. During 2,049,346 person-years, 581 verified cases of primary, invasive epithelial ovarian cancer were accrued. Consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as subgroups of vegetables, estimated from validated dietary questionnaires and calibrated thereafter, was related to ovarian cancer incidence in multivariable hazard regression models. Histologic subtype specific analyses were done.


RESULTS
Total intake of fruit and vegetables, separately or combined, as well as subgroups of vegetables (fruiting, root, leafy vegetables, cabbages) was unrelated to risk of ovarian cancer. A high intake of garlic/onion vegetables was associated with a borderline significant reduced risk of this cancer. The examination by histologic subtype indicated some differential effects of fruit and vegetable intake on ovarian cancer risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, a high intake of fruits and vegetables did not seem to protect from ovarian cancer. Garlic/onion vegetables may exert a beneficial effect. The study of the histologic subtype of the tumor warrants further investigation.
Schulz
Mandy
M
German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14458 Nuthetal, Germany. mschulz@mail.dife.de
Lahmann
Petra H
PH
Boeing
Heiner
H
Hoffmann
Kurt
K
Allen
Naomi
N
Key
Timothy J A
TJ
Bingham
Sheila
S
Wirfält
Elisabet
E
Berglund
Göran
G
Lundin
Eva
E
Hallmans
Göran
G
Lukanova
Annekatrin
A
Martínez Garcia
Carmen
C
González
Carlos A
CA
Tormo
Maria J
MJ
Quirós
José R
JR
Ardanaz
Eva
E
Larrañaga
Nerea
N
Lund
Eiliv
E
Gram
Inger T
IT
Skeie
Guri
G
Peeters
Petra H M
PH
van Gils
Carla H
CH
Bueno-de-Mesquita
H Bas
HB
Büchner
Frederike L
FL
Pasanisi
Patrizia
P
Galasso
Rocco
R
Palli
Domenico
D
Tumino
Rosario
R
Vineis
Paolo
P
Trichopoulou
Antonia
A
Kalapothaki
Victoria
V
Trichopoulos
Dimitrios
D
Chang-Claude
Jenny
J
Linseisen
Jakob
J
Boutron-Ruault
Marie Christine
MC
Touillaud
Marina
M
Clavel-Chapelon
Françoise
F
Olsen
Anja
A
Tjønneland
Anne
A
Overvad
Kim
K
Tetsche
Mette
M
Jenab
Mazda
M
Norat
Teresa
T
Kaaks
Rudolph
R
Riboli
Elio
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014675:Vegetables