Intakes of folate, methionine, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 with risk of esophageal and gastric cancer in a large cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Nutrients in the one-carbon metabolism pathway may be involved in carcinogenesis. Few cohort studies have investigated the intakes of folate and related nutrients in relation to gastric and esophageal cancer.


METHODS
We prospectively examined the association between self-reported intakes of folate, methionine, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 and gastric and esophageal cancer in 492,293 men and women.


RESULTS
We observed an elevated risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with low intake of folate (relative risk (95% confidence interval): Q1 vs Q3, 1.91 (1.17, 3.10)), but no association with high intake. Folate intake was not associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma, gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, or non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma. The intakes of methionine, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 were not associated with esophageal and gastric cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Low intake of folate was associated with increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Q
Q
Xiao
Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
N D
ND
Freedman
National Office for Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Center, Beijing, China.
J
J
Ren
AARP, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
A R
AR
Hollenbeck
Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
C C
CC
Abnet
Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Y
Y
Park
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D008715:Methionine; D014805:Vitamin B 12