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Background: Although diet is considered one of the major environmental risk factors related to chronic disease, many studies do not evaluate it not only because of practical and logistical issues, but also because of persistent concerns about error in self-reported diet. Web-based tools, however, make it feasible and affordable to collect high-quality, detailed dietary data in large observational studies. The Automated Self-Administered 24-hour recall (ASA24) is an easy-to-use, engaging, self-administered web-based dietary assessment tool. It is freely available from the National Cancer Institute and is available on all mobile devices. Studies can use ASA24 to collect single or multiday 24-hr recalls or food records. ASA24 automatically analyzes reported food, beverage, and dietary supplements intake, generating detailed data files of nutrients and food groups consumed at the person and food/beverage/supplement item level. The ASA24 System includes a researcher website where investigators register to use ASA24, schedule and track participant activities, and obtain data files. Self-reported diet using ASA24 was evaluated against recovery biomarkers (i.e., true intake) in the Interactive Diet and Activity Tracking in AARP (IDATA) Study. Absolute dietary intakes assessed by multiday ASA24 recalls were close to true intakes and outperformed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Aim: To assess the feasibility of using ASA24 (version 2011) in free living adults 50-74 years old. Method: Over a 12-month period, men (n=530) and women (n=545) were contacted by email, every other month, to complete an ASA24-2011 (total, 6 ASA24s/year). If a participant did not complete ASA24 after the first contact, a reminder email was sent on a new randomly selected day. Up to three email notifications were sent to obtain each of six ASA24s. Participants also completed a web-based FFQ at months 1 and 12. Results: Most men (92%) and women (87%) completed at least three ASA24s. 77% of participants completed at least five ASA24s. Completion rate for the 1st FFQ was 81% in men and 73% in women, dropping to 73% and 70%, respectively, for the 2nd FFQ. Most participants (men: 75%; women: 70%) completed ASA24 after the 1st email notification. Another 18% of men and 21% of women completed ASA24 after the 2nd email notification. Median time to complete ASA24-2011 for the 1st administration was 55 minutes in men and 58 minutes in women but declined to about 44 minutes by the 3rd ASA24. Participants 60 years old. A decline in completion time with each subsequent ASA24 did not appear to affect the quality of diet reporting as there were no systematic decreases in reported energy and nutrient intakes across ASA24 administrations. Conclusion: It is feasible to collect high-quality diet data using multiday ASAS24s in longitudinal observational studies. New as well as ongoing epidemiologic studies should consider incorporating a detailed dietary assessment such as ASA24 in future studies. This abstract is also being presented as Poster A35. Citation Format: Yikyung Park, Kevin W. Dodd, Douglas Midthune, Victor Kipnis, Heather Bowles, Amy F. Subar. Feasibility of assessing individual’s diet using a web-based dietary assessment tool, ASA24, in a longitudinal observational study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Modernizing Population Sciences in the Digital Age; 2019 Feb 19-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PR04. more...

Background: In the US, over 1.7 million new cancer cases are forecast in 2018, with highest incidence in non-Hispanic blacks and lowest in Asians, and with non-Hispanic whites having higher cancer incidence than Hispanics. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may play a role in reducing risks for some diseases, including cancer. Ethnic dietary intake patterns are known to affect dietary intake habits affecting individual macronutrient and micronutrient consumptions. Some previous population-based intake studies suggest differences in total fat consumption patterns including n-3 PUFA across Hispanic ethnic groups. Objectives: This study aims to determine if mean n-3 PUFA dietary intakes of EPA and DHA differ across race/ethnic groups in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 and to describe the main EPA and DHA food sources consumed. We hypothesize n-3 EPA and DHA dietary intakes differ across ethnic groups based on ethnocentric dietary intake patterns. Methodology: Dietary intake data collected from the Day 1 of the 24-hour recall in the NHANES 2011-2014 was used to estimate mean daily EPA and DHA intake and identify food sources contributing to n-3 dietary intakes in adults across race/ethnic groups. We estimated mean EPA and DHA intake in grams (g) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in Hispanics, non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and non-Hispanic Asians. For major food sources across ethnic groups, the fractions of total intake (and corresponding 95% CIs) from each food item were also calculated. Results: A total of 9,848 individuals were included in this analysis, including 21% Hispanics, 44% non-Hispanic whites and others, 23% non-Hispanic blacks, and 12% non-Hispanic Asians. Non-Hispanic blacks reported higher total PUFA intake (Mean: 19.60g; 95% CI: 18.99-20.22) and non-Hispanic Asians reported the lowest intake (Mean: 16.57g; 95% CI: 15.86-17.27). However, non-Hispanic Asians reported an intake 3x higher of EPA (Mean: 0.07g; 95% CI: 0.06-0.07) and 2x higher of DHA (Mean: 0.12g; 95% CI: 0.11-0.14) than other ethnic groups. Baked or broiled salmon was the largest contributor of EPA and DHA across race/ethnic groups. For non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, salmon cake or patty was their second largest source of EPA. Hispanics had a higher intake of foods with lower DHA content. Conclusions: Our results suggest EPA and DHA intake differs across race/ethnicity and the dietary sources to obtain these n-3 PUFA shows substantial heterogeneity. Epidemiologic studies of cancer and other disease outcomes should employ nutritional assessment tools that consider ethnic-specific sources of n-3 PUFA intake. Citation Format: Sachelly Julian-Serrano, Kevin W. Dodd, Ivonne Anglero, Rachael Stolzenberg-Solomon, Nancy J. Emenaker. Ethnic differences in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4210. more...

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis, particularly IGF-I and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), has been the subject of much attention because of its role in juvenile growth and their association with cancers at several sites. However, epidemiologic studies of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 have had mixed results and several authors have speculated that quality control (QC), sample storage history, and other methodologic concerns could play a role in this heterogeneity. This article documents the results of storage history and QC efforts for a study of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in 6,226 serum samples from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III). The study was carried out on site at Diagnostic Systems Laboratories in Webster, Texas, using the IGF-I ELISA (DSL 10-5600) and the IGFBP-3 immunoradiometric assay (DSL 6600). A run-in study of assay performance suggested that plates, days, and weeks significantly affected the variance of both assays. Analysis of samples with different storage histories also indicated strong effects of storage history. Serum samples disbursed to laboratories for measurement of diverse analytes and then returned for storage showed reductions in serum IGF-I level averaging 43% and reductions in IGFBP-3 of 25% compared with samples shipped immediately to the repository for long-term storage at −80°C. Therefore, the main study was carried out using samples that had been shipped directly to the National Center for Health Statistics/NHANES collection center for storage. Laboratory analyses of NHANES III and QC samples were carried out over ∼10 months. QC was monitored through repeated testing of blood samples from six individuals, with two individuals tested twice on each plate. Assay performance was stable over the entire study and coefficients of variation averaged 2% to 3% within plates and ∼14% for IGF-I and ∼11.5% for IGFBP-3 over the entire study. Coefficients of variation varied significantly among individual QC subjects, ranging from 12.3% to 17.6% for IGF-I and 8.9% to 12.8% for IGFBP-3. Based on Levy-Jennings plots, ∼5% of the plates used for IGF-I in the main study were out of compliance. Finally, location on a plate had small but significant effects on IGF-I level. Together, these results highlight the need for care in large studies of putative biomarkers for cancer risk and illustrate some probable sources of heterogeneity in past epidemiologic studies of the IGF axis and cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(5):1017–22) more...

A variety of in utero factors have been associated with risk of adult cancers, particularly birth weight, toxemia, and gestational age. These factors are thought to reflect hormonal exposures during pregnancy. We hypothesized that the prenatal hormonal milieu may explain part of the variation in cancer rates across ethnic groups, for example, the higher incidence of breast cancer in the Caucasian compared with Hispanic women and the higher incidence of prostate and lower incidence of testicular cancers among African-Americans compared with Caucasians. We measured hormones in early pregnancy blood samples from three ethnic groups in a health care plan in Boston, MA. Mean levels of androstenedione, testosterone, estrone, and prolactin were significantly lower in Caucasian women compared with Hispanic women. Although not statistically significant, estradiol levels were lower in Caucasian compared with Hispanic or African-American women. Concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone, and progesterone were notably higher in African-American compared with Caucasian or Hispanic women. These data are consistent with hypotheses that in utero hormonal exposures may explain some of the ethnic group differences in cancer risk. more...

Background/Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among males in the United States. Compared to European American males, African American (AA) males are at increased risk for PCa and tend to have a more aggressive form of the disease. Recent laboratory studies have suggested deficiencies in vitamin D to be related with PCa risk. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] are considered the best indicators of an individual's overall vitamin D status. However, vitamin D metabolism and physiology are modified by genetic and environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation (UVR), skin color, diet, body mass index (BMI) and genes involved in vitamin D synthesis. The goal of this project is to study modifiers of serum 25(OH)D levels in order to improve our understanding of the role vitamin D plays on prostate cancer susceptibility in African Americans. Methods: This case-control study consisted of AA men (N=250) accrued from a university hospital in Washington, DC. Serum levels of 25(OH)D and prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were assessed. BMI was calculated as weight/height2 (kg/m2). Study participants completed UVR exposure and food frequency questionnaires. Skin color was measured using a reflectance meter. Logistic regression models were used to test for associations between 25(OH)D levels and PCa risk, adjusting for ancestry, age, skin pigmentation, dietary vitamin D, supplemental vitamin D, sun exposure, and other lifestyle factors. In addition, we used linear regression models to explore determinants of serum 25(OH)D levels, including dietary vitamin D intake, ancestry, skin pigmentation and UVR exposure. Results: There were no significant baseline differences between cases and controls for serum 25(OH)D levels, dietary vitamin D and daily servings of dairy products. Baseline differences were found for age (p Conclusion: Supplemental vitamin D and UVR exposure were modifiers of serum 25(OH)D levels. However, we did not observe any significant difference in serum 25(OH)D levels between AA PCa cases and controls. This is likely due to factors such as diet, skin color, BMI and UVR exposure which strongly could influence vitamin D levels and function. Understanding the role of vitamin D in PCa risk may help to explain the higher incidence of PCa among AA males. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):A78. more...