Association between dietary glycemic index and glycemic load and glioma: a case-control study

Although glycemic index (GI) and load (GL) have been linked with several health outcomes, no information is available linking dietary GI and GL with glioma. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary GI and GL and odds of glioma.

This hospital-based case-control study was conducted between November 2009 and September 2011 in the hospital affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. We recruited 128 newly diagnosed cases of glioma and 256 age- and sex-matched controls. All cases were pathologically diagnosed with glioma patients, with no history of any type of other pathologically confirmed cancers and chemotherapy or radiotherapy (due to cancers). Dietary GI and GL were measured by using a validated, self-administered, dish-based, semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire.

A significant positive association was found between dietary GI and glioma (OR: 3.01; 95% CI: 1.75-5.17, P < 0.001); such that after considering for potential confounders, participants in the highest tertile of dietary GI had 3.51 times greater risk of glioma than those in the lowest tertile (OR: 3.51; 95% CI: 1.69-7.28, P_trend = 0.001). Furthermore, we observed a significant positive association between dietary and glioma (OR: 3.74; 95% CI: 1.97-6.11, P_trend < 0.001). This association remained significant even after further controlling for potential confounders (OR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.02-5.69, P_trend= 0.04).

We observed a significant positive association between dietary GI and GL and risk of glioma in adults. However, prospective cohort studies are required to confirm this association.