A case-control study of serum vitamins A, E, and C in lung cancer patients.

In a case-control study, serum levels of vitamins E, C, and A, carotenoids, total cholesterol, and retinol-binding protein along with smoking levels were studied on 59 persons newly diagnosed with lung cancer and also on matched hospitalized controls. The relative risk for smoking increased with the number of pack years of cigarettes smoked. Cases had significantly lower serum levels of carotenoids, vitamin E, and total cholesterol. Adjustment for serum cholesterol levels diminished the case-control difference for serum carotenoid levels and reduced the case-control difference for serum vitamin E levels. The results indicate that serum vitamin E may also be associated with lung cancer, possibly to a greater degree than serum retinol (vitamin A) is associated with lung cancer.