Patrones dietarios y riesgo de cáncer de mama: un análisis factorial de alimentos y nutrientes / Dietary patterns and risk of breast cancer: a factor analysis of food and nutrient intakes

Objetivo: explorar los factores de riesgo dietarios en cáncer de mama (CM) mediante análisis factorial simultáneamente en alimentos y nutrientes. Introducción: la dieta es considerada un factor determinante en la carcinogénesis mamaria. Comparado con un análisis epidemiológico tradicional de alimentos y nutrientes aislados, el análisis factorial genera patrones de elementos asociados, útiles también para las comparaciones internacionales. Material y método: realizamos un estudio caso-control en donde 442 casos de CM y 442 controles fueron pareados por edad, residencia y estatus urbano/rural. Todas las pacientes presentaban un estatus socioeconómico bajo (bajo promedio de años de educación e ingresos). Los controles no presentaban afecciones relacionadas con tabaquismo o alcoholismo, ni habían modificado recientemente su dieta. Un análisis factorial (componentes principales) fue realizado entre controles para alimentos y nutrientes individuales sobre datos de un cuestionario alimentario de 64 ítems, ya utilizado en numerosos estudios caso-control previos. Resultados: el análisis factorial hecho con alimentos retuvo los factores occidental, tradicional, frutas totales, prudente y carnes procesadas. Este análisis usando nutrientes retuvo los factores base animal, almidón/lácteos, base frutal y carotenoides. Mientras que el patrón occidental mostró un riesgo significativo aumentado de CM (OR = 2,15), el patrón prudente se asoció inversa y significativamente (OR = 0,67). En patrones de nutrientes el factor base animal se asoció directamente con CM, mientras que el factor carotenoides se asoció inversamente. Hubo diferencias de asociación según estatus menopáusico. Conclusiones: el análisis factorial mostró el rol potencial de elementos dietarios a partir de alimentos y nutrientes, tanto de riesgo como protectores, en la etiología de CM.

Abstract Objective: to explore the dietary risk factors of breast cancer by means of a simultaneous factor analysis in food and nutrient intakes. Introduction: diet is considered a determining factor in breast carcinogenesis. If compared to a traditional epidemiological analysis of isolated food and nutrient intakes, the factor analysis creates patterns of associated elements, what is also useful for international comparisons. Method: we conducted a case control study where 442 cases of breast cancer and 442 controls were matched by age, residence and urban/rural status. All patients belonged to the lower socioeconomic status (low average of education and income). Controls did not evidence conditions associated to smoking or the consumption of alcohol, and they had not modified their diets either. A factor analysis (main components) was conducted among controls for individual food and nutrients on the basis of a food questionnaire of 64 items, which had already been used in several previous control case studies. Results: the factor analysis made with food kept the following factors: western, traditional, total fruits, cautious and processed meats. This analysis using nutrients kept the animal base, starch/dairy products, fruit base and carotenoids. While the western pattern showed an increased significant risk of breast cancer (OR= 2.15), the prudent pattern was inversely and significantly associated (OR= 0.67). In nutrient patterns the animal base factor was directly associated to breast cancer, whereas the carotenoid factor was inversely associated to it. There were association differences depending on the menopausal status. Conclusions: factor analysis showed the potential role of dietary elements in foods and nutrients, both as risk and protective factors, in the etiology of breast cancer.

Resumo Objetivo: explorar os fatores de risco dietético no câncer de mama (CM) utilizando análise fatorial simultânea em alimentos e nutrientes. Introdução: a dieta é considerada um fator determinante na carcinogénese mamaria. Comparada com uma análise epidemiológica tradicional de alimentos e nutrientes isolados, a análise fatorial gera padrões de elementos associados, úteis também para as comparações internacionais. Material e método: realizamos um estudo caso-controle com 442 casos deCMe 442 controles pareados por idade, residência e local de residência urbano/rural. Todas as pacientes apresentavam condições socioeconômicas baixas (baixas escolarização e renda). Os controles não apresentavam afecções relacionadas com tabaquismo ou alcoolismo, nem haviam modificado recentemente sua dieta. Uma análise fatorial (componentes principais) foi realizada entre controles para alimentos e nutrientes individuais utilizando os dados de um questionário alimentar de 64 itens, utilizado em vários estudos caso-controle anteriores. Resultados: a análise fatorial realizada com alimentos indicou os fatores ocidental, tradicional, frutas totais, prudente e carnes processadas. Esta análise usando nutrientes indicou os fatores base animal, amido/lácteos, frutas e carotenoides. O padrão ocidental mostrou um risco significativo aumentado de CM (OR = 2,15), enquanto o padrão prudente estava associado inversa e significativamente(OR = 0,67). Nos padrões de nutrientes o fator base animal estava associado diretamente com CM, enquanto o fator carotenoides estava inversamente associado. Foram observadas diferenças nas associações segundo condições menopausáticas. Conclusões: a análise fatorial mostrou o potencial de elementos dietéticos a partir de alimentos e nutrientes, tanto de risco como protetores, na etiologia do CM.

Meat Consumption, Related Nutrients, Obesity and Risk of Prostate Cancer: a Case-Control Study in Uruguay.

BACKGROUND: In order to determine the role of meat consumption and related nutrients in the etiology of prostate cancer we conducted a case-control study among Uruguayan men in the time period 1998-2007. RESULTS: The study included 464 cases and 472 controls, frequency matched for age and residence. Both series were drawn from the four major public hospitals in Montevideo. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) of prostate cancer by quartiles of meat intake and related nutrients. The highest vs. the lowest quartile of intake of total meat (OR = 5.19, 95 % CI 3.46-7.81), red meat (OR = 4.64, 95 % CI 3.10-6.95), and processed meat (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.22-2.59) were associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. Meat nutrients were directly associated with the risk of prostate cancer (OR for cholesterol 5.61, 95 % CI 3.75-8.50). Moreover, both total meat and red meat displayed higher risks among obese patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that total and red meat and meat nutrients may play a role in the etiology of prostate cancer in Uruguay.

Mate Intake and Risk of Breast Cancer in Uruguay: a Case- Control Study.

Regarding 'mate' intake (infusion of Ilex paraguariensis herb, a staple beverage in temperate South American regions), most epidemiologic studies showed positive associations with risk of some cancers, (e.g. upper aerodigestive tract), but evidence on breast cancer (BC) risk is limited to a previous multi-site study, which reported a non significant odds ratio [OR]=0.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.67-1.09, p for trend=0.31) for the highest quartile of intake. The present study was conducted in order to further assess associations of 'mate' intake with BC risk. We combined two databases of women belonging to public and private healthcare hospitals. The sample included 572 BC incident cases and 889 controls interviewed with a specific questionnaire featured by socio-demographic, reproductive and lifestyle variables, and a food frequency questionnaire of 64 items, also analyzing 'mate' intake (consumer status, daily intake, age at start, age at quit, duration of habit, intensity of intake). ORs and their 95%CI were calculated through unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant potential confounders. The highest quartile of 'mate' intake was inversely associated with BC risk (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.26-0.57, p for trend <0.001). Stratified analyses also displayed strong significant inverse associations for 'mate' in frequent tea drinkers (OR=0.22), high energy intake (OR=0.23), high body mass index (OR=0.29) and in postmenopausal women (OR=0.36), among other results. As conclusions, we found evidence of a significant inverse association for 'mate' intake and BC risk.

Meat consumption and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: a case-control study in Uruguayan men.

In the period 1995-2004, a hospital-based case-control study on meat consumption and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in men was conducted in Montevideo, Uruguay. The study included 300 cases and 600 controls, frequency matched on age and residence. The results showed that total meat [odds ratio (OR) = 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-2.81, P value for trend = 0.03], red meat (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.13-2.91, P value for trend = 0.01), beef consumption (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.42-3.45, P value for trend = 0.0004), bacon (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.00-2.24, P value for trend = 0.03), saucisson (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.07-2.67, P value for trend = 0.01), and salted meat intake (OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.63-4.46, P value for trend = 0.0001) were positively associated with squamous cell lung cancer. These results are discussed and we suggest that meat consumption could be considered as a strong risk factor for squamous cell lung cancer.

Meat consumption, animal products, and the risk of bladder cancer: a case-control study in Uruguayan men.

In the time period 1996-2004, all incident cases of bladder cancer were included in a case-control study in order to study the role of meat consumption and product animals in the etiology of urothelial cancer. The study included 225 cases and 1,510 hospitalized controls with non-neoplastic conditions, not related to smoking and alcohol drinking. Relative risks, approximated by the odds ratios, were calculated in order to clarify the effect of meat consumption in the etiology of urothelial cancer. Total meat consumption (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.02-2.11), total processed meat (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.08-2.27), frankfurters (hot dogs) (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.28-3.21), ham (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.21-2.67) and salted meat (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.78-4.18) were positively associated with risk of bladder cancer. Animal products, like cheese, whole milk, and total eggs were also associated with bladder cancer risk (OR for eggs 4.05, 95% CI 2.68-6.12). In conclusion, total meat, processed meat, and eggs could play an important role in the etiology of bladder cancer in Uruguay.

Processed meat consumption and squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus in a large case-control study in Uruguay.

BACKGROUND: The role of processed meat in the aetiology of squamous cell oesophageal cancer has been explored in detail. METHODS: In the time period 1990-2005, a case-control study was conducted in Montevideo, Uruguay including 2,368 participants (876 cases of oesophageal cancer and 1,492 controls). Relative risks, approximated by the odds ratios, were estimated by multiple unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Processed meat was positively associated with oesophageal cancer (upper quartile vs lower quartile OR 2.30, 95%CI 1.72-3.07), whereas salted meat intake was positively associated with squamous cell oesophageal cancer (OR 3.82, 95%CI 2.74-5.33). Finally other cured meats were positively associated with oesophageal cancer (OR 1.65, 95%CI 1.22- 2.22). CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that processed meat consumption could be an important risk factor for the aetiology of squamous cell oesophageal cancer in Uruguay.

Diet patterns and risk of squamous cell oesophageal carcinoma: a case-control study in Uruguay.

BACKGROUND: Oesophageal cancer presents high incidence rates in the so-called Brazilian-Uruguayan belt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included 1,170 participants (234 cases and 936 controls) which were analyzed by unconditional multiple logistic regression in order to examine risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OESCC) associated with several food groups. RESULTS: Boiled red meat (OR 2.59, 95%CI 1.69-3.97), lamb meat (OR 1.64, 95%CI 1.07-2.51), processed meat (OR 1.49, 95%CI 1.01-2.21), whole milk (OR 1.78, 1.19-1.68), fresh vegetables and fruits (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.27-0.63), mate consumption (OR 2.04, 95%CI 1.32- 3.16), and black tea (OR 0.10, 95%CI 0.04-0.28) were significantly associated with risk of OESCC. CONCLUSIONS: Hot beverages (mate) and hot foods (boiled meat) appear to be important determinants in the risk of OESCC, allowing the penetration of carcinogens in tobacco and alcohol into the oesophageal mucosa.

Maté drinking and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in South America: pooled results from two large multicenter case-control studies.

BACKGROUND: Maté tea is a nonalcoholic infusion widely consumed in southern South America, and may increase risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and other cancers due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and/or thermal injury. METHODS: We pooled two case-control studies: a 1988 to 2005 Uruguay study and a 1986 to 1992 multinational study in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, including 1,400 cases and 3,229 controls. We computed ORs and fitted a linear excess OR (EOR) model for cumulative maté consumption in liters/day-year (LPDY). RESULTS: The adjusted OR for ESCC with 95% confidence interval (CI) by ever compared with never use of maté was 1.60 (1.2-2.2). ORs increased linearly with LPDY (test of nonlinearity; P = 0.69). The estimate of slope (EOR/LPDY) was 0.009 (0.005-0.014) and did not vary with daily intake, indicating maté intensity did not influence the strength of association. EOR/LPDY estimates for consumption at warm, hot, and very hot beverage temperatures were 0.004 (-0.002-0.013), 0.007 (0.003-0.013), and 0.016 (0.009-0.027), respectively, and differed significantly (P < 0.01). EOR/LPDY estimates were increased in younger (<65) individuals and never alcohol drinkers, but these evaluations were post hoc, and were homogeneous by sex. CONCLUSIONS: ORs for ESCC increased linearly with cumulative maté consumption and were unrelated to intensity, so greater daily consumption for shorter duration or lesser daily consumption for longer duration resulted in comparable ORs. The strength of association increased with higher maté temperatures. IMPACT: Increased understanding of cancer risks with maté consumption enhances the understanding of the public health consequences given its purported health benefits.

Nutrient-based dietary patterns of head and neck squamous cell cancer: a factor analysis in Uruguay.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nutrient-based dietary patterns and squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. METHODS: We used a case-control study which included 548 cases and 548 controls. From these participants, we derived 23 nutrients and they were then submitted to a factorability analysis in order to conduct a principal component factor analysis. RESULTS: We were able to identify four nutrient-derived patterns. The first pattern (meat-based pattern) was positively associated with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (OR 2.85, 95 % CI 1.81-4.15), whereas the third pattern (fruit-based) was strongly protective (OR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.27-0.63). The other nutrient patterns were also significantly associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with minor ORs. CONCLUSION: Both patterns suggest that red meat and fruits are major factors in the etiology of head and neck squamous cell cancer, replicating previous studies in the field.

Meat, milk and risk of lymphoid malignancies: a case-control study in Uruguay.

In the time period 1996-2004, 697 cases with lymphoid neoplasms and 3606 controls with nonneoplastic conditions were included in a case-control study conducted in the Cancer Institute of Uruguay. They were administered a routine questionnaire that included 8 sections and a food frequency questionnaire focused on intakes of total meat, red meat, salted meat, barbecued meat, processed meat, milk, total vegetables and total fruits, and alcoholic beverages. Lymphoid cancers were analyzed by multiple polytomous regression. Red meat, salted meat, and milk were positively associated with risk of lymphoid cancers [odds ratios (OR) for the highest tertile vs. the lowest one of red meat = 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-2.08, OR for whole milk = 2.92, 95% CI 2.63-3.63). On the other hand, plant foods, particularly total fruits, and alcoholic beverages (mainly red wine) were protective. We could conclude that these foods could play a significant role in the etiology of lymphoid malignancies.

Dietary patterns and risk of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract: a factor analysis in Uruguay.

In the time period 1996-2004, we conducted a case-control study in Montevideo, Uruguay with the objective of exploring the role of foods and alcoholic beverages in the etiology of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT). In brief, 563 male cases and 1099 male controls were frequency matched on age and residence using random sampling. All the participants were drawn from the 4 major public hospitals in Montevideo. We used exploratory factor analysis among controls. Through Scree plot test, the model retained 4 factors, which were labeled as prudent, starchy plants, Western, and drinker. These dietary patterns explained 34.8% of the total variance. Whereas the prudent pattern was inversely associated with UADT cancer [odds ratios (OR) for the upper tertile vs. the lowest one 0.52, 95% confidence intervals 0.32-0.76, P value for trend = 0.0005), the remaining patterns were significantly and positively associated with UADT cancers. We conclude that these patterns were similar among the oral and laryngeal cancers, both in the direction of the ORs and in the magnitude of the associations, suggesting that these cancer sites share the effect of dietary patterns in the etiology of cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Maté consumption and risk of oral cancer: Case-control study in Uruguay.

BACKGROUND: In the period 1990 to 2001, a case-control study on oral cancer and maté consumption was conducted at the Cancer Institute of Uruguay. METHODS: The study included 696 newly diagnosed cases with squamous cell carcinoma and 696 controls afflicted with nonneoplastic conditions not related to tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking. The participants were matched on age and residence and the study was restricted to men. RESULTS: In order to control confounding for tobacco and alcohol, we fitted 2 models. According to model 1, the odds ratio (OR) for maté consumption was 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-1.73), whereas the results for model 2 showed an OR of 3.47 (95% CI, 1.60-7.52). CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of a term for the interaction between maté and smoking (or drinking) was rewarding and the ORs were even higher than those observed with the crude estimates.

Risk factors for premenopausal breast cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay.

In order to thoroughly analyze risk factors of breast cancer (BC) in premenopausal Uruguayan women, a case-control study was carried out at the Pereira Rossell Women's Hospital, Montevideo, where 253 incident BC cases and 497 frequency-matched healthy controls were interviewed on menstrual and reproductive story, were administered a short food frequency questionnaire and undertook a series of body measurements necessary to calculate body composition and somatotype. Odds ratio (OR) coefficients were taken as estimates of relative risk derived from unconditional logistic regression. Among the classical risk factors, only the family history of BC in first degree relatives was significantly associated with risk of premenopausal BC (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.33-3.62). Interestingly, this risk factor was found to be stronger in women of ages >40 (OR=4.05, 95% CI 2.10-7.81), late menarche (OR= 2.39, 95% CI 1.18-4.85), early age for their first delivery (OR=3.02, 95% CI 1.26-7.22), short time between menarche and first delivery (OR=3.22, 95% CI 1.29-8.07), and with high parity (OR=4.10, 95% CI 1.79-9.36), although heterogeneity was detected only for age and parity. High consumption of red meat was positively associated with the disease risk (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.35-3.60), in the same way as fried foods (OR=1.79, 95% CI 1.12-2.84). Conversely, a high intake of plant foods displayed a protective effect (OR=0.41, 95% CI 0.26-0.65). Except for hypertension (OR=1.55, 95% CI 1.03-2.35), none of the analyzed components of metabolic syndrome were associated to BC risk. Particular increases of risk for premenopausal BC were found for family history in first degree relatives in certain subsets derived from the menstrual-reproductive history. Preventive strategies could broaden their scope if new studies confirm the present results, in view of the limited prevention measures that premenopausal BC currently has.

Food groups and risk of prostate cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay.

OBJECTIVE: The role of foods and beverages has been studied in detail in order to establish probable risk factors for prostate cancer. METHODS: Data were derived from 326 cases with incident and microscopically confirmed adenocarcinomas of the prostate and 652 controls. Odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals of prostate cancer were estimated by unconditional multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: We identified the following food items as risk factors: lamb meat, salted meat, whole milk, total eggs, and maté consumption. The highest OR was associated with total eggs (OR, 2.43; 95 % CI, 1.70-3.48), followed by salted meat (OR, 2.65; 95 % CI, 1.36-3.76), maté consumption (OR, 1.96; 95 % CI, 1.17-3.31), and whole milk (OR, 2.01; 95 % CI, 1.26-2.51). CONCLUSIONS: The final model, fitted by stepwise forward method, included total eggs, salted meat, whole milk, and maté consumption, whereas fruits were protective.

Diabetes, overweight and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay.

Obese postmenopausal women increase their risk of developing breast cancer (BC), in particular if they display an android-type pattern of adiposity, which is also associated to increased risks of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. In order to explore the associations among anthropometry (body mass index, body composition, somatotype), some specific items of medical history (diabetes, hypertension, dislypidemias, hyperuricemia) and the risk of BC in Uruguayan women, a case-control study was carried out between 2004-2009 at our Oncology Unit. 912 women of ages between 23-69 years (367 new BC cases and 545 non hospitalized, age-matched controls with a normal mammography) were interviewed. Twenty body measurements were taken in order to calculate body composition and somatotype. Patients were queried on socio-demographics, reproductive history, family history of cancer, a brief food frequency questionnaire and on personal history of diabetes, dislypidemias, hyperuricemia, hypertension and gallbladder stones. Uni- and multivariate analyses were done, generating odds ratios (ORs) as an expression of relative risks. A personal history of diabetes was positively associated to BC risk (OR=1.64, 95% CI 1.00-2.69), being higher among postmenopausal women (OR=1.92, 95% CI 1.04-3.52). The risks of BC for diabetes in postmenopausal women with overweight combined with dislypidemia (OR=9.33, 95% CI 2.10-41.5) and high fat/muscle ratio (OR=7.81, 95% CI 2.01-30.3) were significantly high. As a conclusion, a personal history of diabetes and overweight was strongly associated to BC. The studied sample had a subset of high-risk of BC featured by postmenopausal overweight and diabetic women, who also had a personal history of hypertension and/or dyslipidemia. The present results could contribute to define new high risk groups and individuals for primary as well as for secondary prevention, since this pattern linked to the metabolic syndrome is usually not considered for BC prevention.

Nutrient-derived dietary patterns and risk of colorectal cancer: a factor analysis in Uruguay.

In order to explore the role of nutrients and bioactive related substances in colorectal cancer, we conducted a case-control in Uruguay, which is the country with the highest production of beef in the world. Six hundred and eleven (611) cases afflicted with colorectal cancer and 1,362 controls drawn from the same hospitals in the same time period were analyzed through unconditional multiple logistic regression. This base population was submitted to a principal components factor analysis and three factors were retained. They were labeled as the meat-based, plant-based, and carbohydrates patterns. They were rotated using orthogonal varimax method. The highest risk was positively associated with the meat-based pattern (OR for the highest quartile versus the lowest one 1.63, 95 % CI 1.22-2.18, P value for trend = 0.001), whereas the plant-based pattern was strongly protective (OR 0.60, 95 % CI 0.45-0.81, P value for trend <0.0001. The carbohydrates pattern was only positively associated with colon cancer risk (OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.02-2.09). The meat-based pattern was rich in saturated fat, animal protein, cholesterol, and phosphorus, nutrients originated in red meat. Since herocyclic amines are formed in the well-done red meat through the action of amino acids and creatine, it is suggestive that this pattern could be an important etiologic agent for colorectal cancer.

Meat consumption, cooking methods, mutagens, and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a case-control study in Uruguay.

The role of meat in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (ESCC) has been considered conflictive. For this reason, we decided to conduct a case-control study on meat consumption and ESCC. Data included 234 newly diagnosed and microscopically examined ESCC and 2,020 controls with conditions not related to tobacco smoking nor alcohol drinking and without changes in their diets. We studied total meat, red meat, beef, lamb, processed meat, poultry, fish, total white meat, liver, fried meat, barbecued meat, boiled meat, heterocyclic amines, nitrosodimethylamine, and benzo[a]pyrene in relation with the risk of ESCC. Red meat, lamb, and boiled meat were directly associated with the risk of ESCC, whereas total white meat, poultry, fish, and liver were mainly protective against this malignancy.

Dietary benzo[a]pyrene, alcohol drinking, and risk of breast cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay.

In order to determine to the effect of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on breast cancer risk we conducted a case-control study in the time period 1996-2004. The study included 1,098 participants (460 cases and 638 controls). All the patients were drawn from the four major hospitals in Montevideo, Uruguay. Statistical analysis was performed using unconditional multiple logistic regression and the models included age, residence, urban/rural status, education, monthly income, body mass index, menopausal status, age at menarche, parity, smoking index, alcohol drinking, mate consumption, total energy, total vegetables and fruits, and BaP intake. The highest vs. the lowest quartile of BaP intake (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3) was significantly associated with breast cancer risk. Alcohol drinking was also directly associated with breast cancer risk (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.19-2.23) and the joint effect of BaP and alcohol drinking showed an elevated risk of the disease (OR 3.32, 95% CI 2.17-5.06). The present study suggests that elevated consumption of BaP could play an important role in the etiology of breast cancer. This effect is enhanced by the intake of alcohol.

Maté consumption and risk of cancer: a multi-site case-control study in Uruguay.

In the time period 1990-2004 we conducted a multisite case-control study in order to examine the relationship of mate consumption and risk of 13 cancer sites in Montevideo, Uruguay. The study included 13,201 participants (8,875 cases and 4,326 controls) drawn from the four major public hospitals in the city of Montevideo. Newly diagnosed and microscopically confirmed cases of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, larynx, lung, female breast, cervix uteri, prostate, bladder and kidney were included in the study. Controls were drawn from the same hospitals and in the same time period and were afflicted by non-neoplastic conditions not related with tobacco smoking or alcohol drinking and without recent changes in their diets. Odds ratios for mate consumption was directly associated with cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT), esophagus, stomach, larynx, lung, cervix uteri, prostate, bladder, and kidney. In conclusion these results suggest that chemicals, like benzo[a]pyrene, could be responsible of the carcinogenic effect of mate in the above mentioned cancer sites.

Dietary patterns and risk of adenocarcinoma of the lung in males: a factor analysis in Uruguay.

In the period 1996-2004, a hospital-based case-control study on diet and adenocarcinoma of the lung in men was conducted in Montevideo, Uruguay. The study included 200 cases and 800 controls, frequency matched on age, residence, and interviewers. Factor analysis (principal components) was used to identify the major food patterns associated with adenocarcinoma. The analysis of food groups led to the identification of 4 patterns, arbitrarily labeled as Western, starchy vegetables, prudent, and milk/coffee. Whereas the Western pattern (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.08-3.45) and the milk/coffee pattern (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.35-3.90) were positively associated with risk of adenocarcinoma of the lung, the starchy vegetables (OR 0.49, 95% 0.28-0.86) and prudent patterns (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.32-0.92) were significantly protective against this malignancy. The results suggests that adenocarcinoma of the lung could be considered a different nosologic entity, compared with the other histologies of lung cancer.