title: Dietary intakes of carotenoids and other nutrients in the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case-control study in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dietary habits have been related to the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but information on a wide range of macro- and micronutrients is still lacking, particularly for low-incidence countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Italy on 198, histologically confirmed, NPC cases of Caucasian ethnicity of 18-76 years of age. Controls were 594 Caucasian cancer-free patients admitted to general hospitals for acute conditions. Nutrients intake was assessed through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dietary intake of carotenoids were inversely related to NPC risk, notably carotene (OR for highest vs lowest quartile=0.46; 95% CI: 0.26-0.79), α-carotene (OR=0.57; 95% CI: 0.33-0.97), and β-carotene (OR=0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.75). Increased NPC risk was observed for elevate cholesterol intake (OR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.12-3.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study findings suggest a protective effect of carotenoids against NPC in a low-risk population, adding further support to a possible beneficial role of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables in cancers of the head and neck.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS, Via F. Gallini 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy. polesel@cro.it
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polesel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serraino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parpinel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bosetti
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Garavello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D002338:Carotenoids