Positive Health Online

Abstract

DEHNAVI  and COLLEAGUES, (1)Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; (2)Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Autoimmune Bullous Disease Research Center, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; (3)Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.  azadbakhtleila@gmail.com .conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the link between circulating carotenoids and the risk of breast cancer.

Background

Carotenoids appear to have anticancer effects. Prospective evidence for the relation between serum carotenoids and breast cancer is controversial.

Methodology

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the link between circulating carotenoids and the risk of breast cancer. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to 30 November, 2022.

Results

Prospective studies on adults aged ≥18 y that have reported risk estimates for the association between circulating carotenoids and breast cancer risk were considered. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects model was used for combining studies' risk estimates. Dose-response relations were explored through a 1-stage random-effects model. Fifteen publications (17 nested case-control studies and 1 cohort study) with 20,188 participants and 7608 cases were included. We observed an inverse association between the highest level of circulating total carotenoids (relative risk [RR]: 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62, 0.93; n = 8), α-carotene (RR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.87; n = 13), β-carotene (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.98; n = 15), β-cryptoxanthin (RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.96; n = 11), lycopene (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.98; n = 13), and lutein (RR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.93; n = 6) and the risk of breast cancer compared with the lowest level. Additionally, each 10 μg/dL of total carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin was associated with 2%, 22%, 4%, and 10% lower risk of breast cancer, respectively. This relationship was stronger at lower levels of total carotenoids and β-cryptoxanthin. The certainty of evidence was rated from very low to low. Most studies were performed among Western nations, which should be acknowledged for extrapolation of findings.

Conclusion

Total circulating carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, -cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein seem to be related to a decreased risk of breast cancer. Our findings could have practical importance for public health. This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023434983. Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

References

Dehnavi MK(1), Ebrahimpour-Koujan S(2), Lotfi K(1), Azadbakht L(3). The Association between Circulating Carotenoids and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Adv Nutr.;15(1):100135.  DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.10.007  . Epub 30  Oct 2023..Jan 2024.