Association between Vitamin A and E Forms and Prostate Cancer Risk in the Singapore Prostate Cancer Study.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional biochemistry
• Cancer epidemiology
• Micronutrient research

Background:

• Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men globally.
• Dietary factors, including vitamins A and E, are investigated for their role in cancer prevention.
• Understanding the specific forms of these vitamins and their impact on prostate cancer risk is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between serum concentrations of various vitamin A and E forms and prostate cancer risk.
• To identify potential effect modifiers, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, in these associations.

Main Methods:

• A hospital-based case-control study (Singapore Prostate Cancer Study) involving 156 prostate cancer patients and 118 controls.
• Serum concentrations of 15 vitamin A and E forms were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.
• Logistic regression and weighted quantile sum regression were used to analyze data, with stratification by smoking and alcohol status.

Main Results:

• Elevated serum levels of retinol, lutein, α-carotene, β-carotene, ubiquinone, α-tocopherol, δ-tocotrienol, γ-tocotrienol, and α-tocotrienol showed a positive association with overall prostate cancer risk.
• Associations were more pronounced in ever-smokers and regular alcohol drinkers for specific vitamin forms.
• Retinol and α-tocotrienol were key contributors to the 'vitamin A' and 'vitamin E' group indices, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Specific serum forms of vitamins A and E are associated with prostate cancer risk.
• Smoking and alcohol consumption significantly modify these associations, influencing prostate cancer development.
• These findings contribute to understanding the complex etiology of prostate cancer.