Abstract
A high consumption of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of several types of cancer. There is little information on the association between dietary intake and mesothelioma. A hospital-based case-control study of 94 men and women with malignant mesothelioma and 64 control patients without cancer was conducted to determine the odds associated with consumption of carotenoid-containing fruits and vegetables. After statistical adjustment for occupational asbestos exposure, the odds ratio was 0.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1-0.8] for carrot consumption and 0.5 (95% CI 0.2-1.4) for tomato consumption. However, the frequency of consuming other foods that have a high vitamin A or carotenoid content was not associated with a decreased risk of cancer. These results provide some justification for the hypothesis that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma. The body mass index was unrelated to the risk of mesothelioma.
Highlights
The mortality from cancer is markedly lower in countries that have a high per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables (American Health Foundation, 1987; Rose et al, 1986)
One small study by Schiffman et al (1988) found a decreased risk of malignant mesothelioma, an often fatal cancer of the pleura or peritoneum, among subjects reporting a high consumption of vegetables
We investigated whether the same relationship is observed for mesothelioma using self-reported weight 5 years before diagnosis to calculate the body mass index [BMI: weight/height (m2)]
Summary
The mortality from cancer is markedly lower in countries that have a high per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables (American Health Foundation, 1987; Rose et al, 1986). A lower risk of several types of cancer, including lung cancer, has been related to diets rich in cruciferous vegetables and vitamin-containing foods (Trock et al, 1990; Slater and Block, 1991). One small study by Schiffman et al (1988) found a decreased risk of malignant mesothelioma, an often fatal cancer of the pleura or peritoneum, among subjects reporting a high consumption of vegetables. There has been no subsequent research that has examined this relationship
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