Variety in vegetable and fruit consumption and the risk of gastric and esophageal cancer in the European Prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC)
Menée auprès de 452 269 participants de la cohorte EPIC, cette étude européenne évalue l'association entre la consommation d'une grande variété de légumes et de fruits et le risque de cancer de l'estomac ou de l'œsophage (573 cas ; durée moyenne de suivi : 8,4 ans)
BACKGROUND: Diets high in vegetables and fruits have been suggested to be inversely associated with risk of gastric cancer. However, the evidence of the effect of variety of consumption is limited. We therefore investigated whether consumption of a variety of vegetables and fruit is associated with gastric and esophageal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. METHODS: Data on food consumption and follow-up on cancer incidence was available for 452,269 participants from 10 European countries. After a mean follow-up of 8.4 years, 475 cases of gastric and esophageal adenocarcinomas (180 non-cardia, 185 cardia, gastric esophageal junction and esophagus, 110 not specified) and 98 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas were observed. Diet Diversity Scores (DDSs) were used to quantify the variety in vegetable and fruit consumption. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to calculate risk ratios. RESULTS: Independent from quantity of consumption, variety in the consumption of vegetables and fruit combined and of fruit consumption alone were statistically significantly inversely associated with the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (continuous HR per 2 products increment 0.88; 95%CI 0.79-0.97 and 0.76; 95%CI 0.62-0.94, respectively) with the latter particularly seen in ever smokers. Variety in vegetable and/or fruit consumption was not associated with risk of gastric and esophageal adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSION: Independent from quantity of consumption, more variety in vegetable and fruit consumption combined and in fruit consumption alone may decrease the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, residual confounding by lifestyle factors can not be excluded. (c) 2012 Wiley-Liss, Inc.