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Case-Control Study of Diet and Mesothelioma in Louisiana¹

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, Division of Cancer Etiology, National Cancer Institute [M. H. S., L. W. P., S. H. Z., R. F., J. F. F.], Bethesda, Maryland 20892; Department of Pathology, LSU Medical Center [E. F., P. C.], New Orleans, Louisiana 70112; and Capital Systems Group, Inc. [J. M.], Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Data were analyzed from a case-control interview study of malignant mesothelioma in Louisiana, which gathered information on usual diet and on lifetime occupational exposure to asbestos. Thirty-seven patients with malignant mesothelioma of the pleura (n = 32) or peritoneum (n = 5) were matched to controls according to age, sex, race, and factors related to case ascertainment (hospital and date of diagnosis, or parish and date of death). Twenty-one of the 37 cases were judged by masked occupational review to have been exposed to asbestos (57%), compared to seven of 37 controls (19%). Seven additional cases and 10 additional controls had occupational histories suggestive of asbestos exposure. With regard to usual diet before illness, cases reported less frequent consumption of homegrown produce (p = 0.005), cruciferous vegetables (p = 0.005), and all vegetables combined (p = 0.09) than did the controls. An estimate of usual carotene intake was also significantly lower in cases (p = 0.03). Dose-dependent reductions in risk were seen with increasing consumption of vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables (p for trend = 0.013). These associations were not explained by differences in asbestos exposure as measured by the occupational review. The results indicate that consumption of vegetables or some vegetable-related constituent may have a protective effect on developing mesothelioma.

¹ This work was supported in part by USPHS contracts N01-CP-61003 and N01-CP-91023 from the Division of Cancer Etiology, National Cancer Institute.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Landow Building, Room 3C06, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Received 8/25/87. Revised 2/ 8/88. Accepted 2/16/88.

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