Lycopene May Lower Kidney Cancer Risk in Older Women

Higher intake of lycopene is associated with a lower risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC)among postmenopausal women, researchers reported in Cancer (2015;121:580-588).

Researchers led by Cathryn H. Bock, PhD, MPH, of the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, analyzed data from 96,196 postmenopausal women who enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative study from 1993 to 1998 and were followed through July 2013. The investigators analyzed the risks for RCC associated with intake of lycopene, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein plus zeaxanthin, vitamin C, and vitamin E, all micronutrients that have antioxidant properties.

During follow-up, 240 women were diagnosed with RCC. Compared with women in the lowest quartile of lycopene intake, those in the highest quartile had a significant 39% lower risk of RCC. The researchers found no significant association between RCC risk and other micronutrients analyzed in the study.

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