Iron status and risk of cancers in the SU.VI.MAX cohort.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation between iron status and cancer in a population of middle-aged adults living in France where iron supplementation and iron-fortified foods are rarely used. The SU.VI.MAX study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled primary prevention trial evaluating the effect of antioxidant supplementation on chronic diseases in women aged 35-60 and men aged 45-60 y. At baseline, concentrations of hemoglobin, serum transferrin and serum ferritin were measured in 10,197 subjects. Data on dietary intake were estimated from six 24-h dietary records completed during the first 2 study years and available for 5287 subjects. All cancer cases that occurred during the 7.5-y follow-up were validated. In men, baseline serum transferrin and serum ferritin concentrations did not differ between subjects with cancers (n = 467) and those without. In women, serum ferritin was higher (P < 0.0001) and serum transferrin tended to be lower (P < 0.08) in cancer cases. Iron status was not related to cancer risk in men, but women with serum ferritin concentrations > 160 microg/L had an increased risk of cancer (odds ratio = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.05,3.35). No relation was found between dietary iron intake and risk of all cancer sites combined for either men or women. Our results suggest that iron status is not a predictor of cancer risk in men, whereas a serum ferritin concentration > 160 microg/L may be associated with an increase in cancer risk in women.

• Authors: Serge Hercberg, Carla Estaquio, Sébastien Czernichow, Louise Mennen, Nathalie Noisette, Sandrine Bertrais, Jean-Charles Renversez, Serge Briançon, Alain Favier, Pilar Galan
• Journal: The Journal of nutrition (J Nutr) Vol. 135 Issue 11 Pg. 2664-8 (Nov 2005) ISSN: 0022-3166 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16251627 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Placebos
• Transferrin
• Ferritins
• Iron

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Antioxidants (administration & dosage)
• Diet
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Ferritins (blood)
• France (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Iron (administration & dosage)
• Iron Deficiencies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (epidemiology)
• Nutritional Status
• Placebos
• Risk Factors
• Sex Factors
• Smoking
• Transferrin (analysis)