SERUM VITAMIN LEVELS AND THE RISK OF CANCER OF SPECIFIC SITES IN MEN OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY IN HAWAII

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (5) , 2369-2372
Abstract
Serum specimens were obtained from over 6800 men of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii from 1971-1975. Since then, the following numbers of newly diagnosed cancer cases were identified: 81 colon, 74 lung, 70 stomach, 32 rectum and 27 urinary bladder. The stored sera of the cases and 302 controls were tested to determine their .beta.-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E levels. There was no association of either vitamin A or E with any of the cancers. For serum .beta.-carotene, there was a significant association only with lung cancer (20.0 .mu.g/dl in cases vs. 29.0 in controls, P < 0.005). The lung cancer odds ratio for men in the lowest quintile of .beta.-carotene was 3.4 relative to men in the highest quintile. A low serum .beta.-carotene levels evidently is a predictor of increased lung cancer risk in men.

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