Carotenoids and Lung Cancer Risk

Carotenoids and Lung Cancer Risk

BOSTON--Increasing intake of foods high in beta-cryptoxanthin, acarotenoid, may reduce lung cancer risk, according to researchers at Harvard (CancerEpidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 13, 1:40-8, 2004) (http://cebp.aacrjournals.org).Researchers analyzed the association between lung cancer risk and intake ofspecific carotenoids from seven North American cohort studies. Beta-carotene wasnot associated with lung cancer risk, nor were alpha-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthinor lycopene. Beta-cryptoxanthin was associated with a 24-percent reduced risk oflung cancer. The results did not change after adjusting for vitamin C intake(with or without supplements), folate (with or without supplements) or use ofother carotenoids and multivitamins, according to the study.