Observational studies found inverse associations of dietary
carotenoids and
vitamin A intakes with
lung cancer risk. However, interventional trials among high-risk individuals showed that β-
carotene supplements increased
lung cancer risk. Most of the previous studies were conducted among European descendants or Asians. We prospectively examined the associations of
lung cancer risk with dietary intakes of
carotenoids and
vitamin A in the Southern Community Cohort Study, including 65,550 participants with 1204 incident
lung cancer cases. Multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Lung cancer cases had lower energy-adjusted dietary intakes of all
carotenoids and
vitamin A than non-cases. However, dietary intakes of
carotenoids and
vitamin A were not associated with overall
lung cancer risk. A significant positive association of dietary
vitamin A intake with
lung cancer risk was observed among current smokers (HRQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.02-1.49; Ptrend = 0.01). In addition,
vitamin A intake was associated with an increased risk of
adenocarcinoma among African Americans (HRQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.55; 95%CI: 1.08-2.21; Ptrend = 0.03). Dietary
lycopene intake was associated with an increased risk of
lung cancer among former smokers (HRQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.04-2.17; Ptrend = 0.03). There are positive associations of dietary β-
cryptoxanthin intake with
squamous carcinoma risk (HRQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.03-2.15; Ptrend = 0.03). Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings.