Plasma and dietary carotenoids and vitamins A, C and E and risk of colon and rectal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.
Carotenoids and vitamins A, C and E are possibly associated with a reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) risk through antioxidative properties. The association of prediagnostic plasma concentrations and dietary consumption of carotenoids and vitamins A, C and E with the risk of colon and rectal cancer was examined in this case-control study, nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Plasma concentrations of carotenoids (α- and β-carotene, canthaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin) and vitamins A (retinol), C and E (α-, β- and γ- and δ-tocopherol) and dietary consumption of β-carotene and vitamins A, C and E were determined in 898 colon cancer cases, 501 rectal cancer cases and 1,399 matched controls. Multivariable conditional logistic regression models were performed to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). An association was observed between higher prediagnostic plasma retinol concentration and a lower risk of colon cancer (IRR for highest quartile = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.87, p for trend = 0.01), most notably proximal colon cancer (IRR for highest quartile = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.77, p for trend = 0.01). Additionally, inverse associations for dietary β-carotene and dietary vitamins C and E with (distal) colon cancer were observed. Although other associations were suggested, there seems little evidence for a role of these selected compounds in preventing CRC through their antioxidative properties.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Max
M
Leenders
Anke M
AM
Leufkens
Peter D
PD
Siersema
Fränzel J B
FJ
van Duijnhoven
Alina
A
Vrieling
Paul J M
PJ
Hulshof
Carla H
CH
van Gils
Kim
K
Overvad
Nina
N
Roswall
Cecilie
C
Kyrø
Marie-Christine
MC
Boutron-Ruault
Guy
G
Fagerhazzi
Claire
C
Cadeau
Tilman
T
Kühn
Theron
T
Johnson
Heiner
H
Boeing
Krasimira
K
Aleksandrova
Antonia
A
Trichopoulou
Eleni
E
Klinaki
Anna
A
Androulidaki
Domenico
D
Palli
Sara
S
Grioni
Carlotta
C
Sacerdote
Rosario
R
Tumino
Salvatore
S
Panico
Marije F
MF
Bakker
Guri
G
Skeie
Elisabete
E
Weiderpass
Paula
P
Jakszyn
Aurelio
A
Barricarte
José
J
María Huerta
Esther
E
Molina-Montes
Marcial
M
Argüelles
Ingegerd
I
Johansson
Ingrid
I
Ljuslinder
Timothy J
TJ
Key
Kathryn E
KE
Bradbury
Kay-Tee
KT
Khaw
Nicholas J
NJ
Wareham
Pietro
P
Ferrari
Talita
T
Duarte-Salles
Mazda
M
Jenab
Marc J
MJ
Gunter
Anne-Claire
AC
Vergnaud
Petra A
PA
Wark
H B
HB
Bueno-de-Mesquita
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004032:Diet; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
antioxidants; carotenoids; colorectal cancer; fruits and vegetables; vitamins