Diet, smoking and lung cancer: a case-control study of 1000 cases and 1500 controls in South-West England

Darby, S., Whitley, E. , Doll, R., Key, T. and Silcocks, P. (2001) Diet, smoking and lung cancer: a case-control study of 1000 cases and 1500 controls in South-West England. British Journal of Cancer, 84(5), pp. 728-735. (doi: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1668)

Abstract

We have examined the relationship between diet and lung cancer in a case–control study of 982 cases of lung cancer and 1486 population controls in south-west England in which subjects were interviewed personally about their smoking habits and their consumption of foods and supplements rich in retinol or carotene. Analyses were performed for 15 dietary variables, including intake of pre-formed retinol and carotene. There were significant associations (P< 0.01) with lung cancer risk for 13 of the variables, eight of which remained after adjustment for smoking. When the 15 variables were considered simultaneously, independent significant associations remained for 5: pre-formed retinol (increased risk), and fish liver oil, vitamin pills, carrots and tomato sauce (decreased risk). It is unlikely that all five associations represent biological effects, or that they can all be explained by residual confounding by smoking, or by biases. We conclude that there is at least one as yet unidentified factor that is causally related to lung cancer risk and of considerable importance in terms of attributable risk in this population.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Whitley, Dr Elise
• Authors: Darby, S., Whitley, E., Doll, R., Key, T., and Silcocks, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: British Journal of Cancer
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0007-0920
• ISSN (Online): 1532-1827
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Cancer 84(5):728-735
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License