PLASMA CAROTENOIDS AND THE PREVALENCE OF ADENOMATOUS POLYPS OF THE DISTAL COLON AND RECTUM

In a case-control study, the authors investigated relations between pl asma carotenoid concentrations and the prevalence of colorectal adenom atous polyps (precursors to colorectal cancer) in residents of Los Ang eles County and Orange County, California, from 1991 through 1993. Pla sma concentrations of six carotenoids were compared in 472 asymptomati c cases with a first-time diagnosis of at least one adenomatous polyp of the distal colon or rectum and 502 matched controls. Odds ratios ad justed for age, sex, smoking, alcohol intake, and energy, saturated fa t, and fruit and vegetable intake revealed no associations between any of the individual carotenoids and polyp prevalence or between total c arotenoids and polyp prevalence.