Dietary intakes of carotenoids and other nutrients in the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case-control study in Italy

BACKGROUND: Dietary habits have been related to the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but information on a wide range of macro-and micronutrients is still lacking, particularly for low-incidence countries. METHODS: We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Italy on 198, histologically confirmed, NPC cases of Caucasian ethnicity of 18-76 years of age. Controls were 594 Caucasian cancer-free patients admitted to general hospitals for acute conditions. Nutrients intake was assessed through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through logistic regression. RESULTS: Dietary intake of carotenoids were inversely related to NPC risk, notably carotene (OR for highest vs lowest quartile = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.26-0.79), alpha-carotene (OR 0.57; 95% CI: 0.33-0.97), and beta-carotene (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.75). Increased NPC risk was observed for elevate cholesterol intake (OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.12-3.05). CONCLUSION: Study findings suggest a protective effect of carotenoids against NPC in a low-risk population, adding further support to a possible beneficial role of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables in cancers of the head and neck. British Journal of Cancer (2012) 107, 1580-1583. doi:10.1038/bjc.2012.413 www.bjcancer.com Published online 11 September 2012 (C) 2012 Cancer Research UK