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Research: LU and colleagues, Cen
Listed in Issue 70
Abstract
LU and colleagues, Center for Human Nutrition, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA, qlu@mednet.ucla.edu, conducted a case-control study to examine the effects of plasma lycopene, other carotenoids, retinol and alpha- and gamma-tocopherols on the risk of prostate cancer .
Background
Dietary intake of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene has been reported to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between plasma lycopene and other carotenoids and prostate cancer.
Methodology
65 adult males with prostate cancer and 132 cancer-free control subjects (adult males) were interviewed using a standard epidemiological questionnaire at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1993 to 1997. Plasma levels of carotenoids, retinol and tocopherols were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). An unconditional logistic regression model was used in bivariate and multivariate analyses using Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Data were adjusted for age, race, years of education, daily caloric intake, pack-years of smoking, alcohol consumption and family history of prostate cancer.
Results
Prostate cancer was significantly inversely associated with plasma levels of the carotenoids lycopene (OR=0.17) and zeaxanthin (OR, 0.22) when comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles. Borderline associations were found for lutein (OR, 0.30) and beta- cryptoxanthin (OR, 0.31). No obvious associations were found for alpha- and beta-carotenes, retinol or alpha- and gamma-tocopherols.
Conclusion
The results confirm the inverse associations between lycopene, other carotenoids such as zeaxanthin, lutein and beta- cryptoxanthin and prostate cancer . Further research on the associations between lycopene and other antioxidants and the risk of prostate cancer would seem justifiable .
References
Lu QY et al. Inverse associations between plasma lycopene and other carotenoids and prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 10 (7): 749-56. Jul 2001.
