ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CAROTENE DIETARY-INTA KE AND LUNG-CANCER IN MEN FROM SANTIAGO

Aiming to assess the association between carotenes and vitamin A intak e and lung cancer, a case control study was-performed. Sixty one male subjects with lung cancer and 61 controls paired for age sex and smoki ng habits from 6 hospitals in Santiago were analyzed. Based on a consu mption tendency enquiry, the mean weekly intake of food groups, carote nes and vitamin A was calculated, considering seasonal variations. Res ults showed that cases consumed less ''winter'' vegetables than contro ls (chard beet, chicory, spinach and cabbage) but no differences betwe en groups in carotene and retinol consumption. It is concluded that pa tients with lung cancer have a lower consumption of carotene rich vege tables.