title: Plasma carotenoids, retinol and tocopherol levels and the risk of ovarian cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nan-Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Eun-Seop
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang-Beom
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mi-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Jae-Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Kyong
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Jung-Pil
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Yong-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D024505:Tocopherols