Relation of Serum Vitamins a and E and Carotenoids to the Risk of Cancer

Abstract Epidemiologic studies suggest that low carotene intake and low levels of serum retinol may be associated with an increased risk of cancer. Likewise, in some animal studies vitamin E has been associated with a reduced rate of induced cancers. Therefore, we measured retinol, retinol-binding protein, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and total carotenoids in serum collected in 1973 from 111 participants in the Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program who were free of cancer at the time but were diagnosed as having cancer during the subsequent five years. These measurements were compared with those in 210 controls who were matched for age, sex, race, and time of blood collection, and who remained free of cancer. Mean values for retinol were similar for cases and controls (67.3 and 68.7 μg per deciliter, respectively [95 per cent confidence limits for case-control difference, -6.7 to 3.5]). Values were also similar for retinol-binding protein (6.01 and 5.94 mg per deciliter [-0.42 to 0.56]), and carot...