Vitamin A may reduce stomach cancer risk

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) High intakes of vitamin A apparently reduce the risk of developing gastric cancer, Swedish researchers report.

Vitamin A comes pre-formed, as retinol in foods of animal origin, or in precursor form, as carotenoids in fruits and vegetables, Dr Susanna C Larsson, of the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, and colleagues explain in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Vitamin A may influence the development of stomach cancer through its role in controlling cell proliferation, the researchers write.

''However, epidemiologic studies of vitamin A, retinol (preformed vitamin A), and provitamin A carotenoids in relation to the risk of gastric cancer have documented inconsistent results.'' The researchers examined the records of 82,000 Swedish adults who had completed a food-frequency questionnaire in 1997 and were followed through June 2005.

The average follow-up was seven years. During that time, a total of 139 cases of gastric cancer were diagnosed.

A significantly lower likelihood of developing gastric cancer was seen with high intakes of dietary and total vitamin A and retinol, and of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. Compared with the lowest intakes, the highest consumption of these compounds was associated with about a 50 percent reduction in the risk of gastric cancer.

Smoking affected how strongly vitamin A protected against stomach cancer, but alcohol drinking appeared to make no difference.

REUTERS BDP ND0910