Cancer, vitamins, and plasma lipids: prospective Basel study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Oncology
• Cardiovascular Disease Research

Background:

• The Basel Study (BS) investigated cardiovascular and peripheral arterial diseases from 1960-1973.
• A mortality follow-up was conducted from 1965-1980 for 4,224 men.
• Cancer mortality was analyzed alongside lifestyle and nutritional factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between plasma lipids, vitamins, lifestyle factors, and cancer mortality.
• To investigate specific cancer sites including lung, stomach, and large bowel.
• To determine the influence of vitamins on human carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 531 deaths from 4,224 men in the Basel Study cohort.
• Age- and sex-matched controls were selected for each cancer case.
• Data collected included plasma lipids, plasma vitamins (beta-carotene, A, C, E), alcohol, smoking, and dietary intake (milk, citrus fruits).

Main Results:

• Plasma lipids showed no significant difference between cases and controls, except for lower levels in colorectal and gastric cancers.
• Beta-carotene was significantly lower in lung cancer cases and low in gastric cancer cases.
• Vitamin C was consistently lower in all cancer cases, particularly stomach cancer, correlating with lower citrus fruit intake. Vitamin E was low in colon cancer.

Conclusions:

• Lower levels of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E were observed in various cancer cases compared to controls.
• Plasma lipids correlated with vitamin E and vitamin A levels.
• Smoking and alcohol consumption were inversely related to beta-carotene levels, suggesting vitamins influence human carcinogenesis.