Food groups and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus: a case–control study in Uruguay
2003

Food Groups and Oesophageal Cancer Risk in Uruguay

Sample size: 830 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): De Stefani E, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Ronco A L, Boffetta P, Brennan P, Muñoz N, Castellsagué X, Correa P, Mendilaharsu M

Primary Institution: Registro Nacional de Cáncer, Montevideo, Uruguay

Hypothesis

Does dietary intake of specific food groups influence the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus?

Conclusion

The study found that high consumption of red meat, stewed meat, and salted meat increases the risk of oesophageal cancer, while raw vegetables and citrus fruits are protective.

Supporting Evidence

  • High intake of red meat was associated with an increased risk of oesophageal cancer.
  • Consumption of raw vegetables showed a strong protective effect against the disease.
  • Citrus fruits were found to significantly reduce the risk of squamous cell carcinoma.

Takeaway

Eating a lot of red and stewed meat can make you more likely to get a certain type of throat cancer, but eating fruits and vegetables can help protect you.

Methodology

A case-control study was conducted with 166 cases of oesophageal cancer and 664 controls, using a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intake.

Potential Biases

Potential recall bias, especially among cases, and interviewer bias was minimized through training.

Limitations

Recall bias and lack of validation for the food frequency questionnaire.

Participant Demographics

Participants included 166 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 664 controls, matched by age and sex.

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI 1.40–4.23

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6601239

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