β-Carotene and cancer prevention: the Basel Study

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Abstract
In 1971–1973 at the third examination of the Basel Study started in 1959, the major antioxidant vitamins and carotene were measured in the plasma of 2974 men. A subsample and their families were reinvestigated in 1977–79. During the 12-y observation period (1973–85) 553 men died, 204 of cancer (lung cancer 68, stomach cancer 20; colon cancer 17, all other malignancies 99). We found significantly lower mean carotene levels for all cancer, bronchus cancer, and stomach cancer (all P < 0.01) compared with the 2421 survivors. The relative risk of subjects with low carotene (< 0.23 µmol/L) was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) for lung cancer (Cox's model). Higher risks were noted for all cancer (P < 0.01) if both carotene and retinol were low. Low plasma carotene which is known to reflect carotene intake is in our study associated with increased cancer risk.