title: Consumption of fruit, vegetables, and other food groups and the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of dietary habits in the etiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been extensively investigated in high-incidence areas, but evidence is scanty in low-incidence populations. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NPC risk and a wide range of food groups in the Italian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Italy on 198, histologically confirmed, NPC cases of Caucasian ethnicity, aged 18-76 years. Controls were 594 Caucasian cancer-free patients admitted to general hospitals for acute conditions. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through logistic regression, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and energy intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated vegetable consumption was inversely related to NPC risk (OR for highest vs. lower quartile = 0.51; 95 % CI 0.29-0.90). The association was particularly strong for yellow- or red-pigmented vegetables (OR = 0.31; 95 % CI 0.18-0.54), and this effect was stronger among never smokers (OR = 0.18; 95 % CI 0.06-0.55) than among ever smokers (OR = 0.37; 95 % CI 0.19-0.71). Increased NPC risk emerged for elevated eggs consumption (OR = 2.50; 95 % CI 1.44-4.32; p-trend <0.01). No significant associations emerged between NPC risk and consumption of cereals, meat, fish, dairy products, and sweets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings show that, also in low-risk populations, vegetable consumption is a protective factor against NPC. The stronger effect for yellow- or red-pigmented vegetables is in agreement with the inverse association reported for carotenoids intake.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Centro di Riferimento OncologicoI, IRCCS, Via Franco Gallini, 2, 33081, Aviano, PN, Italy. polesel@cro.it
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polesel
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serraino
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzan
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaccher
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zucchetto
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Garavello
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult