Cantonese-style salted fish as a cause of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: report of a case-control study in Hong Kong.
Two hundred fifty incident cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma under age 35 years in Hong Kong Chinese and an equal number of age- and sex-matched friend controls were interviewed. Mothers of cases and controls were interviewed also, if available, to obtain information on childhood events concerning the study subjects. Consumption of Cantonese-style salted fish during all time periods was significantly associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma; the association was especially strong during childhood. The relative risk for having Cantonese-style salted fish as one of the first solid foods during weaning was 7.5 (95% confidence limits, 3.9, 14.8), and the relative risk for consuming the food at least once a week compared to less than once a month at age 10 years was 37.7 (95% confidence limits, 14.1, 100.4). It is estimated that over 90% of young nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases in Hong Kong Chinese can be attributed to consumption of this food during childhood.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D012107:Research Design; D012965:Sodium Chloride
D012965:Sodium Chloride