The association between dietary intake and the risk of cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract: A case-control study in Brazil

Cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract (UADT) rank as the fifth most common neoplastic disease worldwide. Two identified risk contributors are consumption of tobacco and alcohol. Among all other potential etiological factors, diet has long been recognized to play an important role in the development of cancers of the UADT. Data from a multi-centre, hospital-based case-control study conducted in Brazil were used to assess the association of dietary intake with the risk of cancers of the UADT. Dietary assessment was made in terms of estimated intake of nutrients, specific foods and food groups. After adjusting for the effects of alcohol and tobacco consumption as well as empirical confounders, protective effects against cancer of the mouth (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.61, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.4--1.0) and the pharynx (OR = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.3--0.9) were found for consumption of citric fruits. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...