Intake of vitamins D and A and calcium and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: San Francisco Bay Area population-based case-control study

Nutr Cancer. 2012;64(5):674-84. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2012.689916. Epub 2012 Jun 14.

Abstract

Several nutrients identified as potentially cancer protective have been inconsistently associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk. Dietary history data, including use of vitamin supplements, were collected using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire administered during in-person interviews with 4,133 participants (2,052 cases, 2,081 controls) in a San Francisco Bay Area population-based case-control study. Data were used to determine the association of intake levels of vitamins D and A and calcium with risk of NHL and NHL subtypes. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed as estimates of relative risk using adjusted unconditional logistic regression. Increasing vitamin D intake from food and supplements was positively associated with NHL risk in men (5th quintile: OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0-2.4, P(trend) = 0.07) and with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in women and men (5th quintile: OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0-2.5, P(trend) = 0.02); that was largely due to the effect in men (P(trend) = 0.03). These results do not support a strong role for vitamin D intake with NHL risk, with the exception of a potential association for DLBCL risk in men. Our results should be interpreted conservatively until further investigation in larger pooled studies can be conducted to better assess the role of vitamin D intake in lymphomagenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Calcium, Dietary / administration & dosage*
  • Calcium, Dietary / adverse effects
  • Calcium, Dietary / therapeutic use
  • California / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diet* / adverse effects
  • Dietary Supplements* / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / epidemiology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / etiology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / prevention & control
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / epidemiology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / etiology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk
  • San Francisco / epidemiology
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin A / adverse effects
  • Vitamin A / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin D / adverse effects
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D