Plasma carotenoids, retinol and tocopherol levels and the risk of ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the relation between plasma carotenoids, retinol and tocopherol levels and ovarian cancer risk in Korean women.


METHODS
Hospital-based case-control study.


METHODS
Six tertiary medical institutes in Korea.


METHODS
Forty-five epithelial ovarian cancers and 135 age-matched controls.


METHODS
Preoperative plasma concentrations of beta-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin plus lutein, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol were measured by reverse-phase, gradient high-pressure liquid chromatography.


METHODS
Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated by tertiles to evaluate the effect of micronutrients on endometrial cancer risk after adjustment for body mass (BMI) index, menopause, parity, oral contraceptive use, smoking status, and alcohol consumption status.


RESULTS
Women in the highest tertile for beta-carotene had 0.12-times the risk of ovarian cancer of in the lowest tertile (OR 0.12; 95%CI 0.04-0.36). Women with the highest tertiles of lycopene (OR 0.09; 95%CI 0.03-0.32), zeaxanthin/lutein (OR 0.21; 95%CI 0.09-0.52), retinol (OR 0.45; 95%CI 0.21-0.98), alpha-tocopherol (OR 0.23; 95%CI 0.10-0.53) and gamma-tocopherol (OR 0.28; 95%CI 0.11-0.70) had lower risk of ovarian cancer than women in the lowest tertiles. Results were consistent across strata of socio-epidemiologic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Micronutrients, specifically ss-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol, may play a role in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer.
Jeong
Nan-Hee
NH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Song
Eun-Seop
ES
Lee
Jong-Min
JM
Lee
Kwang-Beom
KB
Kim
Mi-Kyung
MK
Cheon
Ji-Eun
JE
Lee
Jae-Kwan
JK
Son
Sung-Kyong
SK
Lee
Jung-Pil
JP
Kim
Jae-Hoon
JH
Hur
Soo-Young
SY
Kwon
Yong-Il
YI
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D024505:Tocopherols