title: The effect of Greek herbal tea consumption on thyroid cancer: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although in the last decade several studies have addressed the protective role of black and green tea on several diseases, including cancer, there are only few and controversial studies on the effect of tea on benign and malignant thyroid diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  An age and gender group matched case-control study conducted in Athens, Greece, was designed. 113 Greek patients with histologically confirmed thyroid cancer and 286 patients with benign thyroid diseases along with 138 healthy controls were interviewed with a pre-structured questionnaire in person by trained interviewers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An inverse association between chamomile tea consumption and benign/malignant thyroid diseases was found (P < 0.001). The odds of chamomile tea consumption, two to six times a week, after controlling for age, gender and BMI, were 0.30 (95% CI: 0.10-0.89) and 0.26 (95% CI: 0.12-0.5) for developing thyroid cancer and benign thyroid diseases, respectively when compared with not consumption. The duration of consumption was also inversely associated with the diseases. Thirty years of consumption significantly reduced the risk of thyroid cancer and benign thyroid diseases development by almost 80%. Similar, although weaker protective association, was found for sage and mountain tea. Adjustment for smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption did not alter the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest for the first time that drinking herbal teas, especially chamomile, protects from thyroid cancer as well as other benign thyroid diseases.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riza
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece 1 Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece a.linos@prolepsis.gr.
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linos
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece 1 Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petralias
authors.affiliation: 2 Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental & Occupational Health, Prolepsis, 7 Fragoklisias Street, Maroussi, 15125, Greece.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Martinis
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Statistics, Athens University of Economics and Business, 76 Patission Street, Athens, 10434, Greece.
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duntas
authors.affiliation: 4 Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri I.R.C.C.S., Via S. Maugeri 10, I-27100, Pavia, Italy 5 Endocrine Unit, Evgenidion Hospital, University of Athens, 20 Papadiamantopoulou Street, 11528 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Linos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020843:Chamomile; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D027543:Salvia officinalis; D000069459:Teas, Herbal; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000069459:Teas, Herbal