Protective effect of dietary micronutrients on gastric cancer risk among Jordanians

Objective: several dietary and non-dietary factors and genetic predisposition may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis. The findings about associations between micronutrients and gastric cancer (GC) is still inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary micronutrients on gastric cancer risk. Methods: a case-control study comprised of 173 GC (107 males: 66 females) patients and 313 (190 males: 123 females) population-based controls matched for age, occupation, and marital status. Demographics, medical history, physical activity, and nutrient intake information were collected using reliable interview-based questionnaires. Information on dietary micronutrient intake was collected from the participants using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) and evaluate associations between dietary micronutrients and GC risk. Results: GC was inversely associated with the consumption of vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamins D, E, K, B2, B3, B6, B12, and C, folate, chromium, iodine, and selenium. Additionally, a protective effect was observed for consumption of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphate, sodium, and zinc. In almost all the micronutrients, the second tertile showed a more pronounced reduction in GC risk as compared to the first tertile. Conclusions: our data support favorable effects of dietary consumption of some vitamins and minerals against GC risk.