Plasma carotenoids and retinol and overall and breast cancer risk: a nested case-control study.

Abstract

Experimental studies suggest that carotenoids and retinol may play a role in carcinogenesis, but epidemiological evidence is lacking. We investigated the prospective associations between plasma concentrations of major carotenoids and retinol, and overall and breast cancer risk. A nested case-control study included all first incident cancer cases diagnosed in the SU.VI.MAX cohort between 1994 and 2002 (n = 159 cases, 1 matched control/case). Baseline plasma concentrations of carotenoids and retinol were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess odds ratios for an increase of 0.1 μmol/L [odds ratio (OR)] and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Plasma β-carotene (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.90-0.99, Ptrend = 0.04) and β-cryptoxanthin concentrations (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.81-0.99, Ptrend = 0.03) were inversely associated with overall cancer risk. Plasma β-cryptoxanthin concentration was inversely associated with breast cancer risk (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.71-0.96, Ptrend = 0.02). The OR between plasma lycopene concentration and overall cancer risk was 1.07 (0.99-1.15), Ptrend = 0.06. This association turned significant (Ptrend = 0.01) when excluding cancer cases diagnosed during the first year of follow-up. This prospective study suggests an inverse association between plasma concentrations of β-cryptoxanthin and both overall and breast cancer risk, and an inverse association between β-carotene and overall cancer risk. The direct association between lycopene concentration and cancer risk deserves further investigation.

• Authors: Camille Pouchieu, Pilar Galan, Véronique Ducros, Paule Latino-Martel, Serge Hercberg, Mathilde Touvier
• Journal: Nutrition and cancer (Nutr Cancer) Vol. 66 Issue 6 Pg. 980-8 ( 2014) ISSN: 1532-7914 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25072980 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cryptoxanthins
• beta Carotene
• Vitamin A
• Carotenoids
• Lycopene

Topics

• Adult
• Body Mass Index
• Breast Neoplasms (blood)
• Carotenoids (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Colorectal Neoplasms (blood)
• Cryptoxanthins (blood)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (blood)
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Lung Neoplasms (blood)
• Lycopene
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Prostatic Neoplasms (blood)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Risk Factors
• Vitamin A (blood)
• beta Carotene (blood)