Circulating concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 in relation to prostate cancer risk: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study.
BACKGROUND
Determinants of one-carbon metabolism, such as folate and vitamin B(12), have been implicated in cancer development. Previous studies have not provided conclusive evidence for the importance of circulating concentrations of folate and vitamin B(12) in prostate cancer etiology. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between prostate cancer risk and circulating concentrations of folate and vitamin B(12) in a large prospective cohort.


METHODS
We analyzed circulating concentrations of folate and vitamin B(12) in 869 cases and 1,174 controls, individually matched on center, age, and date of recruitment, nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Relative risks (RR) for prostate cancer were estimated using conditional logistic regression models.


RESULTS
Overall, no significant associations were observed for circulating concentrations of folate (P(trend) = 0.62) or vitamin B(12) (P(trend) = 0.21) with prostate cancer risk. RRs for a doubling in folate and vitamin B(12) concentrations were 1.03 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.92-1.16] and 1.12 (95% CI, 0.94-1.35), respectively. In the subgroup of cases diagnosed with advanced stage prostate cancer, elevated concentrations of vitamin B(12) were associated with increased risk (RR for a doubling in concentration, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.05-2.72, P(trend) = 0.03). No other subgroup analyses resulted in a statistically significant association.


CONCLUSIONS
This study does not provide strong support for an association between prostate cancer risk and circulating concentrations of folate or vitamin B(12). Elevated concentrations of vitamin B(12) may be associated with an increased risk for advanced stage prostate cancer, but this association requires examination in other large prospective studies.
Johansson
Mattias
M
Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Urology and Andrology, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden. Mattias.Johansson@oc.umu.se
Appleby
Paul N
PN
Allen
Naomi E
NE
Travis
Ruth C
RC
Roddam
Andrew W
AW
Egevad
Lars
L
Jenab
Mazda
M
Rinaldi
Sabina
S
Kiemeney
Lambertus A
LA
Bueno-de-Mesquita
H Bas
HB
Vollset
Stein Emil
SE
Ueland
Per M
PM
Sánchez
Maria-José
MJ
Quirós
J Ramón
JR
González
Carlos A
CA
Larrañaga
Nerea
N
Chirlaque
María Dolores
MD
Ardanaz
Eva
E
Sieri
Sabina
S
Palli
Domenico
D
Vineis
Paolo
P
Tumino
Rosario
R
Linseisen
Jakob
J
Kaaks
Rudolf
R
Boeing
Heiner
H
Pischon
Tobias
T
Psaltopoulou
Theodora
T
Trichopoulou
Antonia
A
Trichopoulos
Dimitrios
D
Khaw
Kay-Tee
KT
Bingham
Sheila
S
Hallmans
Göran
G
Riboli
Elio
E
Stattin
Pär
P
Key
Timothy J
TJ
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12