[Regional differences in gastric cancer mortality and eating habits of people]

One year (continuous 2 days for 12 months) food surveys were held at 5 areas, with different gastric cancer risks, in Akita and Iwate Prefectures. Each food items was counted down the frequency of intake for one year and Food Index (FI, intake frequency of certain food item or food group/number of meals X 100) was calculated and coefficient of correlations with Standardized Mortality Rates (SMRs) of all causes, cancer of all sites and stomach cancer were also calculated. Significant negative correlations were observed between stomach cancer SMR and FIs of cereals, sea weeds, vegetables which served with miso-soup and liliaceae vegetables, and was positive with FI of tomato. Significant positive correlations between SMR of all causes and FIs of wild edible plants, eggplant and green kidney beans, and was negative with FI of cabbage. SMR of cancer of all sites showed positive correlations with FIs of eggs and milks and tomato and showed negative correlations with FI of leak. It seemed that animal foods, except fishes, have higher risks for stomach cancer, cancer of all sites and all causes of death than vegetal foods.