Dietary intakes of retinol, carotenes, vitamin C, and vitamin E and colorectal cancer risk: the Fukuoka colorectal cancer study.
It has long been a matter of interest whether antioxidant vitamins are protective against colorectal cancer as well as human cancers in general, but epidemiological evidence is inconclusive. We investigated associations of dietary intakes of retinol and antioxidant vitamins with colorectal cancer risk in 816 incident cases of histologically confirmed colorectal cancer and 815 controls randomly selected for the Fukuoka colorectal cancer study in Japan. Dietary intakes were assessed by a PC-assisted interview regarding 148 food items. Statistical adjustment was made for body mass index, physical activity, calcium, and n-3 fatty acid intake and other factors. Retinol intake was significantly, inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk; the odds ratio for the highest vs. lowest was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.35, 0.88; P (trend) = 0.01) in women, but a modest increase in the risk was observed among men with the highest intake of retinol. Liver was the major source of retinol intake and showed similar associations with colorectal cancer risk in men and women. Intake of carotenes, vitamin C, and vitamin E were not related to colorectal cancer risk in either men or women. The study did not support a hypothesis that dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins is protective in the development of colorectal cancer.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. wangzj@phealth.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Zhenjie
Z
Wang
Amit Man
AM
Joshi
Keizo
K
Ohnaka
Makiko
M
Morita
Kengo
K
Toyomura
Suminori
S
Kono
Takashi
T
Ueki
Masao
M
Tanaka
Yoshihiro
Y
Kakeji
Yoshihiko
Y
Maehara
Takeshi
T
Okamura
Koji
K
Ikejiri
Kitaroh
K
Futami
Takafumi
T
Maekawa
Yohichi
Y
Yasunami
Kenji
K
Takenaka
Hitoshi
H
Ichimiya
Reiji
R
Terasaka
D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000975:Antioxidants; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid