RACE AND SEX-DIFFERENCES IN ASSOCIATIONS OF VEGETABLES, FRUITS, AND CAROTENOIDS WITH LUNG-CANCER RISK IN NEW-JERSEY (UNITED-STATES)

We used data from a case-control study conducted in New Jersey between 1980 and 1983 to evaluate race and sex differences in associations of vegetable, fruit, and carotenoid consumption with lung cancer. Cases included 736 White males, 860 White females, 269 Black males, and 86 B lack females with incident, histologically confirmed, primary cancer o f the trachea, bronchus, or lung. Controls were identified through dri vers' license and Health Care Financing Administration files and inclu ded 548 White males, 473 White females, 170 Black males, and 47 Black females. Usual intakes of vegetables (predominantly yellow/green) and fruit (predominantly yellow/orange) as well as other food sources of c arotenoids were ascertained by a food frequency questionnaire. White f emales showed significant inverse associations of lung cancer with veg etables, fruit, and carotenoids. White males showed nonsignificant inv erse associations with vegetables and carotenoids, and Black females j ust with vegetables. No inverse associations were found for Black male s. Vegetable consumption was associated with risk of all histologic ty pes of lung cancer, but the pattern of increasing risk with decreasing intake was limited to smokers. We infer that consumption of yellow/gr een vegetables and carotenoids confer protection from lung cancer to W hite male and White female smokers. Further studies are needed to clar ify the effect in Blacks.