title: Poultry and fish intake and risk of esophageal cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mixed results regarding the association between white meat (including poultry and fish) intake and the risk of esophageal cancer (EC) have been reported. We performed a meta-analysis to provide a quantitative assessment of this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant studies were identified in MEDLINE until December 31, 2012. Summary relative risks (SRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled with a random-effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 20 articles, including 3990 cases with EC, were included in this meta-analysis. Compared to individuals with the lowest level of fish intake, individuals with the highest fish intake were found to have reduced risk of EC (SRRs = 0.69; 95% CIs: 0.57-0.85), while poultry intake was not associated with EC (SRRs = 0.83; 95% CIs: 0.62-1.12). Total fish consumption is associated with reduced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) risk, while poultry consumption was not associated with ESCC risk. Additionally, neither poultry nor fish consumption was associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that fish consumption may have a potential role in EC prevention, while poultry intake has no effect. However, because the majority of data was from case-control studies, further well-designed prospective studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu.|Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital of Second Military Medical University.|Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The 6th People's Hospital, Medical College, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Gengxi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital of Second Military Medical University.
authors.forename: Bailing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The 6th People's Hospital, Medical College, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu.
authors.forename: Chongjun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D011200:Poultry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: esophageal cancer; fish; meta-analysis; poultry