Carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk in an Italian study
What it found
In an Italian study of 1953 people with colorectal cancer and 4154 without, higher intakes of most carotenoids were linked to lower odds of colorectal cancer.
Lycopene showed no link.
What they found
Studies in people
Alpha-carotene and risk
People with the highest alpha-carotene intake had lower odds of colorectal cancer than those with the lowest intake. The odds were 0.72 times as high in the highest group compared with the lowest.
Beta-carotene and risk
Higher beta-carotene intake was linked to lower odds of colorectal cancer. The odds were 0.60 times as high in the highest intake group compared with the lowest.
Beta-cryptoxanthin and risk
Higher beta-cryptoxanthin intake was linked to lower odds of colorectal cancer. The odds were 0.83 times as high in the highest intake group compared with the lowest.
Lutein and zeaxanthin
Higher combined lutein and zeaxanthin intake was linked to lower odds of colorectal cancer. The odds were 0.64 times as high in the highest intake group compared with the lowest.
Total carotenoids
Higher total carotenoid intake was linked to lower odds of colorectal cancer. The odds were 0.59 times as high in the highest intake group compared with the lowest.
Lycopene
No link was found between lycopene intake and colorectal cancer. The odds were not significantly different between the highest and lowest intake groups.
What the authors conclude
“Our findings indicate an inverse association between total and selected carotenoids and CRC risk.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that their findings indicate an inverse association between total and selected carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk.
- They state that their findings support a variety of fruits and vegetables in dietary recommendations for colorectal cancer prevention.
How it was done
The authors wanted to find out which dietary compounds might help prevent colorectal cancer, since diet is known to influence risk. They noted that most earlier studies looked only at total carotenoids or mainly at lycopene and beta-carotene, with little information on others like beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein plus zeaxanthin.
They compared 1953 people with confirmed colorectal cancer and 4154 controls without cancer, all admitted to hospitals in several Italian areas between 1992 and 1996. Carotenoid intake was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire, and the odds of cancer were compared between the highest and lowest intake groups.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a case-control study, so it can show a link between carotenoid intake and colorectal cancer but cannot prove that carotenoids cause the lower risk.
- Diet was recorded only once, after diagnosis for cases, so it may not reflect long-term eating habits.
- The data were collected in the 1990s in Italy, so the results may not apply to other populations or times.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Competing interests: The authors declare no competing of interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the Hospital Division Directions (Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, GB/gb/OCU/051/04 and Ospedale Niguarda, 100/00 all. 15) according to the rules for observational studies at the time the study was conducted. The study was conducted according to the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. All subjects were provided with detailed information about the study and gave their consent to participate.
- Authors work at
- University of Milan, Italy; University of Bologna, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Intake of total and selected carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk: An Italian case-control study
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Natale A, D'Angelo A, Bidoli E, et al (2025). Intake of total and selected carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk: An Italian case-control study. European journal of clinical nutrition. doi:10.1038/s41430-025-01661-7Free full textPubMed 40962850DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error