Abstract
BackgroundA protective effect of fruits and vegetables against colorectal cancer has been supported by many epidemiologic studies. This suggests that the carotenoids frequently found in these foods play a role in the prevention of this common cancer. To examine associations between the intake of individual and total carotenoids and the risk of colorectal cancer, we analyzed prospective data from the Multiethnic Cohort Study.MethodsThis analysis includes 85 898 men and 105 106 women who completed a quantitative food frequency questionnaire in 1993–1996. The participants were African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Japanese Americans, Latinos, and whites aged 45–75 years at cohort entry. After an average follow-up of 8.2 years, 1292 and 1086 incident cases of colorectal cancer were identified in men and women, respectively. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate relative risks of colorectal cancer.ResultsNo significant associations were found between intake of individual and total carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk either in men or women, except for β-cryptoxanthin, which showed a mild protective effect in men. When the associations were investigated separately for colon and rectal cancer, lycopene intake was related to an increased risk of rectal cancer in men. A decreased risk was seen for total β-carotene in male current smokers, but the test for interaction with smoking status was not significant. No association was observed in each ethnic-sex group.ConclusionOverall, our findings do not support a significant association between carotenoid intake and colorectal cancer, although some associations were seen in subgroup analyses.
Highlights
A protective effect of fruits and vegetables against colorectal cancer has been supported by many epidemiologic studies.[1,2,3] This suggests a potential role for carotenoids, which are frequently found in these foods, in the prevention of this common cancer
We investigated whether the association of carotenoid intakes with colorectal cancer risk differed by smoking status at baseline, by race/ethnic group, and by multivitamin use
When we ran the multivariate models without adjusting for dietary fiber intake, which was the main confounder in the association between carotenoids and colorectal cancer, a moderate inverse association was seen for β-carotene intake among men (RR = 0.77, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 0.63–0.93, P for trend = 0.05, data not shown)
Summary
A protective effect of fruits and vegetables against colorectal cancer has been supported by many epidemiologic studies.[1,2,3] This suggests a potential role for carotenoids, which are frequently found in these foods, in the prevention of this common cancer. A protective effect of fruits and vegetables against colorectal cancer has been supported by many epidemiologic studies This suggests that the carotenoids frequently found in these foods play a role in the prevention of this common cancer. To examine associations between the intake of individual and total carotenoids and the risk of colorectal cancer, we analyzed prospective data from the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Results: No significant associations were found between intake of individual and total carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk either in men or women, except for β-cryptoxanthin, which showed a mild protective effect in men. Conclusion: Overall, our findings do not support a significant association between carotenoid intake and colorectal cancer, some associations were seen in subgroup analyses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
