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Fish consumption and cancer risk.
E Fernandez1, L Chatenoud, C La Vecchia
1Institut Universitari de Salut Pública de Catalunya, L'Hospitalet (Barcelona), Catalonia, Spain. efernandez@bell.ub.es
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|July 7, 1999
Summary
Consuming fish regularly may lower the risk of developing several cancers, particularly those affecting the digestive tract. This finding highlights fish consumption as a potentially protective dietary factor against cancer. Keywords: fish consumption, cancer risk, digestive tract cancers.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Nutritional Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Limited research exists on the association between fish consumption and cancer risk, unlike cardiovascular diseases.
- This study addresses the gap by investigating fish intake and various cancer types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the relationship between the frequency of fish consumption and the risk of specific neoplasms.
- To evaluate fish intake as a potential protective factor against cancer development.
Main Methods:
- Integrated case-control studies conducted in northern Italy (1983-1996).
- Included histologically confirmed neoplasms of the digestive tract, breast, reproductive organs, and others.
- Utilized multiple logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for different fish consumption levels.
Main Results:
- Consistent protection observed for digestive tract cancers (oral, esophageal, stomach, colon, rectal, pancreatic) with higher fish consumption.
- Inverse trends in risk noted for larynx, endometrial, ovarian cancers, and multiple myeloma.
- No significant association found between fish consumption and risk for liver, gallbladder, breast, bladder, kidney, thyroid cancers, or lymphomas.
Conclusions:
- Regular fish consumption, even in small amounts, is associated with a reduced risk of several cancers.
- Fish intake appears to be a favorable indicator for digestive tract cancer risk.
- Further research may elucidate the specific mechanisms behind this protective effect.