Traditional Cantonese diet and nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk: a large-scale case-control study in Guangdong, China.
BACKGROUND
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare in most parts of the world but is a common malignancy in southern China, especially in Guangdong. Dietary habit is regarded as an important modifier of NPC risk in several endemic areas and may partially explain the geographic distribution of NPC incidence. In China, rapid economic development during the past few decades has changed the predominant lifestyle and dietary habits of the Chinese considerably, requiring a reassessment of diet and its potential influence on NPC risk in this NPC-endemic area.


METHODS
To evaluate the association between dietary factors and NPC risk in Guangdong, China, a large-scale, hospital-based case-control study was conducted. 1387 eligible cases and 1459 frequency matched controls were recruited. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a logistic regression model, adjusting for age, sex, education, dialect, and habitation household type.


RESULTS
Observations made include the following: 1) consumption of canton-style salted fish, preserved vegetables and preserved/cured meat were significantly associated with increased risk of NPC, with enhanced odds ratios (OR) of 2.45 (95% CI: 2.03-2.94), 3.17(95% CI: 2.68-3.77) and 2.09 (95% CI: 1.22-3.60) respectively in the highest intake frequency stratum during childhood; 2) consumption of fresh fruit was associated with reduced risk with a dose-dependent relationship (p = 0.001); and 3) consumption of Canton-style herbal tea and herbal slow-cooked soup was associated with decreased risk, with ORs of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.68-1.03) and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.47-0.72) respectively in the highest intake frequency stratum. In multivariate analyses, these associations remained significant.


CONCLUSIONS
It can be inferred that previously established dietary risk factors in the Cantonese population are still stable and have contributed to the incidence of NPC.
Jia
Wei-Hua
WH
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Guangzhou, 510060, China. jiaweih@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Luo
Xiang-Yu
XY
Feng
Bing-Jian
BJ
Ruan
Hong-Lian
HL
Bei
Jin-Xin
JX
Liu
Wen-Sheng
WS
Qin
Hai-De
HD
Feng
Qi-Sheng
QS
Chen
Li-Zhen
LZ
Yao
Shugart Yin
SY
Zeng
Yi-Xin
YX
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014675:Vegetables