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No evidence of association between breast cancer risk and dietary carotenoids, retinols, vitamin C and tocopherols in Southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women

  • Epidemiology
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Abstract

Objectives The effects of dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins on breast cancer risk are inconclusive. Moreover, little is known as to whether associations differ between non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Hispanic women. We assessed the associations of the dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins commonly found in fruits and vegetables with breast cancer risk and estrogen receptor (ER) status among NHW and Hispanic women living in the Southwestern U.S. Materials and methods Primary breast cancer cases in the 4-Corners region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah), diagnosed between October 1999 and May 2004, were identified through state cancer registries. Controls were frequency matched by ethnicity and age (±5 years). Information on demographic characteristics and other breast cancer risk factors prior to the referent year were collected by interviewer-administered computerized questionnaire. A modified extensive diet history questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Results We did not find a protective effect of dietary antioxidants, such as α or β-carotene, β -cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene, retinol, vitamin C, α, δ, β or γ-tocopherol, on breast cancer risk in populations living in the Southwest. We did not find any consistent associations with multivariate risk of breast cancer or estrogen receptor status. Cigarette smoking was not a significant effect modifier of these associations. Conclusion This case–control study did not find any meaningful association of the dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins with breast cancer risk or ER status.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by NIH grants: CA 078682, CA 078762, CA078552, CA078802. This research also was supported by the Utah Cancer Registry, (National Cancer Institute #N01-PC-67000), the State of Utah Department of Health, and conducted in collaboration with the New Mexico Tumor Registry (#N01-PC-67000), and the Arizona and Colorado cancer registries, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Program of Cancer Registries and additional state support. The contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the National Cancer Institute. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Sandra Edwards, Roger Edwards, Jennifer Herrick, Leslie Palmer, Betsy Risendale, Tara Patton, Jason Witter, and Kelly May to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, 555 South Floyd Street, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Chenxi Wang, Richard N. Baumgartner, Dongyan Yang & Kathy B. Baumgartner

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Martha L. Slattery & Maureen A. Murtaugh

  3. University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA

    Tim Byers & Lisa M. Hines

  4. Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    Anna R. Giuliano

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  1. Chenxi Wang
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Correspondence to Kathy B. Baumgartner.

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Wang, C., Baumgartner, R.N., Yang, D. et al. No evidence of association between breast cancer risk and dietary carotenoids, retinols, vitamin C and tocopherols in Southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women. Breast Cancer Res Treat 114, 137–145 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-008-9979-3

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