Dietary risk factors for hypopharyngeal cancer in India.
OBJECTIVE
The Indian subcontinent has among the highest rates of hypopharyngeal cancer worldwide. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between the Indian diet and hypopharyngeal cancer.


METHODS
We used data from a hospital-based case-control study of 513 incident hypopharyngeal cancers and 718 controls from four centers in India. Dietary information was assessed using a 67-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Intakes of related foods were combined across food groups and were categorized by quartile. We used unconditional logistic regression modeling, stratified by ever tobacco use, to analyze the association between food intakes and hypopharyngeal cancer.


RESULTS
Among persons who had ever smoked or chewed tobacco, protective associations were seen at the highest quartiles of total fruit intake (OR = 0.37, 0.20-0.69), curds (OR = 0.35, 0.17-0.69), and leafy green (OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.13-0.51), root (OR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.11-0.43), and cruciferous vegetable intakes (OR = 0.41, 0.20-0.84). Results were similar, although not as robust, among persons who had never smoked or chewed tobacco. An increased risk of disease was seen among tobacco users who drank milk daily (OR = 1.84, 1.14-2.98).


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary factors might contribute to the high risk of hypopharyngeal cancer observed in India.
Heck
Julia E
JE
International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Sapkota
Amir
A
Vendhan
Gajalakshmi
G
Roychowdhury
Soma
S
Dikshit
Rajesh P
RP
Jetly
Dhaval H
DH
Brennan
Paul
P
Boffetta
Paolo
P
Hashibe
Mia
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects