title: Salt intake and gastric cancer risk according to Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, tumour site and histological type.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although salt intake is considered a probable risk factor for gastric cancer, relevant studies have provided heterogeneous results, and the magnitude of the association has not been accurately quantified.
  
  
  METHODS
  To quantify gastric cancer risk in relation to dietary salt exposure according to Helicobacter pylori infection status and virulence, smoking, tumour site, and histological type, we evaluated 422 gastric cancer cases and 649 community controls. Salt exposure was estimated in the year before the onset of symptoms through: sodium intake (estimated by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)); main food items/groups contributing to dietary sodium intake; visual analogical scale for salt intake preference; use of table salt; and duration of refrigerator ownership.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing subjects with the highest with those with the lowest salt exposure (3rd vs 1st third), sodium intake (OR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.16-3.46), consumption of food items with high contribution to sodium intake (OR=2.54, 95% CI: 1.56-4.14) and salt intake evaluated by visual analogical scale (OR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.28-2.63) were associated with an increased gastric cancer risk. Subjects owning a refrigerator for >50 years had a lower risk for gastric cancer (OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.14-0.57). These associations were observed regardless of H. pylori infection status and virulence, smoking, tumour site or histological type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the view that salt intake is an important dietary risk factor for gastric cancer, and confirms the evidence of no differences in risk according to H. pylori infection and virulence, smoking, tumour site and histological type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. barbarap@med.up.pt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peleteiro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lunet
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary