The EPIC-Norfolk Study
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.
International journal of cancer 2013 ; 135: 2930-9.
Leenders M, Leufkens AM, Siersema PD, van Duijnhoven FJ, Vrieling A, Hulshof PJ, van Gils CH, Overvad K, Roswall N, Kyrø C, Boutron-Ruault MC, Fagerhazzi G, Cadeau C, Kühn T, Johnson T, Boeing H, Aleksandrova K, Trichopoulou A, Klinaki E, Androulidaki A, Palli D, Grioni S, Sacerdote C, Tumino R, Panico S, Bakker MF, Skeie G, Weiderpass E, Jakszyn P, Barricarte A, María Huerta J, Molina-Montes E, Argüelles M, Johansson I, Ljuslinder I, Key TJ, Bradbury KE, Khaw KT, Wareham NJ, Ferrari P, Duarte-Salles T, Jenab M, Gunter MJ, Vergnaud AC, Wark PA, and Bueno-de-Mesquita HB
DOI : 10.1002/ijc.28938
PubMed ID : 24771392
PMCID : 0
URL : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24771392/
Abstract
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.