Abstract

Background: 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.

Methods: This 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.

Results: No significant associations were found between intake of individual and total carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk either in men or women, except for ?-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 ?-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.

Conclusion: Overall, our findings do not support a significant association between carotenoid intake and colorectal cancer, although some associations were seen in subgroup analyses. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Details

Title
Carotenoid Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study
Author
Song-Yi, Park; Abraham M.Y. Nomura; Murphy, Suzanne P; Wilkens, Lynne R; Henderson, Brian E; Kolonel, Laurence N
Pages
63-71
Publication year
2009
Publication date
2009
Publisher
Japan Epidemiological Association
ISSN
09175040
e-ISSN
13499092
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
863578190
Copyright
Copyright Japan Epidemiological Association 2009