Carcinoma of the colon--association with low dietary vitamin A in females: preliminary communication.

Seventeen patients with non-metastatic carcinoma of the colon (9 male, 8 female) were compared with age- and sex-matched controls in a study examining the relationship of diet and altered cholesterol metabolism with carcinoma of the colon. Bile acid excretion in the faeces was significantly less in cancer patients (P less than 0.001), and a significantly lower intake of retinol (P less than 0.01) and vitamin A (P less than 0.05) was demonstrated in female cancer patients. There was no difference between patients and controls in hepatic cholesterol enzyme activity or in fasting plasma lipid levels.