title: Plasma carotenoids, vitamin C, retinol and tocopherols levels and pancreatic cancer risk within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition: a nested case-control study: plasma micronutrients and pancreatic cancer risk.
abstract: Evidence of a protective effect of several antioxidants and other nutrients on pancreatic cancer risk is inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the association for prediagnostic plasma levels of carotenoids, vitamin C, retinol and tocopherols with risk of pancreatic cancer in a case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). 446 incident exocrine pancreatic cancer cases were matched to 446 controls by age at blood collection, study center, sex, date and time of blood collection, fasting status and hormone use. Plasma carotenoids (α- and β-carotene, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein), α- and γ-tocopherol and retinol were measured by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography and plasma vitamin C by a colorimetric assay. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for pancreatic cancer risk were estimated using a conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted for smoking status, smoking duration and intensity, waist circumference, cotinine levels and diabetes status. Inverse associations with pancreatic cancer risk were found for plasma β-carotene (IRR highest vs. lowest quartile 0.52, 95%CI 0.31-0.88, p for trend = 0.02), zeaxanthin (IRR highest vs. lowest quartile 0.53, 95%CI 0.30-0.94, p for trend = 0.06) and α-tocopherol (IRR highest vs. lowest quartile 0.62, 95%CI 0.39-0.99, p for trend = 0.08. For α- and β-carotene, lutein, sum of carotenoids and γ-tocopherol, heterogeneity between geographical regions was observed. In conclusion, our results show that higher plasma concentrations of β-carotene, zeaxanthin and α-tocopherol may be inversely associated with risk of pancreatic cancer, but further studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jeurnink
authors.forename: Martine M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leenders
authors.forename: Franzel J B
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van Duijnhoven
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Siersema
authors.forename: Eugene H J M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Carla H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van Gils
authors.forename: Marije F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Overvad
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roswall
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tjønneland
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boutron-Ruault
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Racine
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cadeau
authors.forename: Verena
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authors.lastname: Grote
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaaks
authors.forename: Krasimira
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authors.lastname: Aleksandrova
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boeing
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trichopoulou
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benetou
authors.forename: Elisavet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valanou
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palli
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krogh
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vineis
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tumino
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattiello
authors.forename: Elisabete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weiderpass
authors.forename: Guri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Skeie
authors.forename: José María Huerta
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Castaño
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Duell
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barricarte
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molina-Montes
authors.forename: Marcial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Argüelles
authors.forename: Mire
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorronsoro
authors.forename: Dorthe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindkvist
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sund
authors.forename: Francesca L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: Kay-Tee
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Khaw
authors.forename: Mazda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenab
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fedirko
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riboli
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Bueno-de-Mesquita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D024505:Tocopherols
keywords: carotenoid; pancreatic cancer; retinol; tocopherol; vitamin C