Are retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate and carotenoids intake associated with bladder cancer risk? Results from the Netherlands Cohort Study

In the Netherlands Cohort Study among 120 852 subjects aged 55-69 years at baseline (1986), the association between vitamins and carotenoids intake, v itamin supplement use, and bladder cancer incidence was examined, Exposure status was measured with a food-frequency questionnaire. After 6.3 years of follow-up, data from 569 cases and 3123 subcohort members were available f or case-cohort analyses. The age-, sex-, and smoking-adjusted relative risk s (RRs) for retinol, vitamin E, folate, alpha -carotene, beta -carotene, lu tein and zeaxanthin, and lycopene were 1.04, 0.98, 1.03, 0.99, 1.16, 1.11, and 1.08, respectively, comparing highest to lowest quintile of intake. Onl y vitamin C (RR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.61-1.07, beta -trend = 0.08), and beta -cr yptoxanthin intake (RR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.53-1.03, beta -trend < 0.01) were i nversely associated with bladder cancer risk. The association with vitamin C disappeared after adjustment for beta -cryptoxanthin but not vice versa. The RRs for supplemental use of vitamin A, C or E compared to no use were a round unity. We conclude that dietary or supplemental intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, vi tamin E, and intake of folate, and most carotenoids are not associated with bladder cancer. In this study, only beta -cryptoxanthin intake appeared to be inversely associated. (C) 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bica ncer.com.