A high consumption of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of several types of cancer. There is little information on the association between dietary intake and mesothelioma. A hospital-based case-control study of 94 men and women with malignant mesothelioma and 64 control patients without cancer was conducted to determine the odds associated with consumption of carotenoid-containing fruits and vegetables. After statistical adjustment for occupational asbestos exposure, the odds ratio was 0.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1-0.8] for carrot consumption and 0.5 (95% CI 0.2-1.4) for tomato consumption. However, the frequency of consuming other foods that have a high vitamin A or carotenoid content was not associated with a decreased risk of cancer. These results provide some justification for the hypothesis that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma. The body mass index was unrelated to the risk of mesothelioma.