Positive Health Online

Abstract

TONIOLO and colleagues, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA, paolo.toniolo@med.nyu.edu, investigated serum carotenoid levels in relation to risk of breast cancer .

Background

Consumption of vegetables and fruit may protect against many types of cancer. However, the research evidence available on breast cancer is not compelling. Carotenoids are present in most plants and have known antioxidant properties. Blood concentrations of carotenoids have been proposed as biochemical markers of consumed vegetables, fruit and synthetic supplements.

Methodology

This was a case-control study (270 cases and 270 controls ) nested within a cohort in New York during 1985-1994. The carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene in archived serum samples were measured using liquid chromatography.

Results

Risk of breast cancer increased with decreasing beta-carotene, lutein, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin . Risk of breast cancer was approximately doubled in subjects with blood levels of beta-carotene at the lowest quartile compared with those with blood levels at the highest quartile (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.29, 3.79). Risk associated with other carotenoids was similar, and varied between 2.08 (95% CI 1.11, 3.90) for lutein and 1.68 (95% CI 0.99, 2.86) for beta-cryptoxanthin. The OR for the lowest quartile of total carotenoids was 2.31 (95% CI 1.35, 3.96).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that a low intake of carotenoids, through poor diet and/or lack of vitamin supplementation, may have public health relevance for people with markedly low intakes.

References

Toniolo P et al. Serum carotenoids and breast cancer. American Journal of Epidemiology 153 (12): 1142-7. Jun 2001.

Comment

There is always a huge mention in the media and from the medical establishment of how useless vitamin supplements are. Well, this study, which did not differentiate between dietary and supplemented sources of carotenoids, found a 200% increased risk of breast cancer in comparing people with the lowest blood levels of carotenoids with those with the highest. Included in their serum samples were carotenoids ingested either through diet or supplementation. Readers of Positive Health do not need to be reminded to follow research findings such as these, as well as their own common sense in protecting their health.