Food consumption pattern in cervical carcinoma patients and controls
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2009; 30(02): 71-75
DOI: DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.60051
Abstract
Background:The uterine cervix is the second most common site of cancer among Indian women.Though the human papillomavirus has been demonstrated to be a causative agent for this cancer, a variety of other risk factors are in play, such as sexual and reproductive patterns, socioeconomic, hygienic practices, and diet. The accumulated evidence suggests that cervical cancer is preventable and is highly suitable for primary prevention. The dietary intake of antioxidants and vitamins like vitamin A, carotenoids, vitamin C, folacin and tocopherol is found to have protective effects against cancer of the cervix. Dietary data regarding cervical cancer are still scanty.Objective:The present study was therefore undertaken to study the dietary pattern among uterine cervical cancer patients and normal controls.Materials and Methods:A total of 60 consecutive patients and 60 controls were enrolled from a referral hospital during the year 2004. A schedule inclusive of the food frequency pattern and 24-h dietary recall along with the general information was administered to all the enrolled subjects to describe findings on the food consumption pattern along with other important factors.Results:The mean intake of energy, protein, vitamins, etc., between the cases and controls was not significantly different except for the vitamin C level. Serum vitamin E was found to have lower average in patients as compared to controls. The nutrient intake of cervical cancer patients and controls was grossly deficient in the socioeconomic group studied. With regard to the macronutrient intake, calorie and protein intakes showed a deficit of around 50% when compared to RDA.Conclusion:The food consumption profile was not significantly different between cervical cancer patients and normal controls.
Publication History
Article published online:
19 November 2021
© 2009. Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)
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Background:
The uterine cervix is the second most common site of cancer among Indian women.Though the human papillomavirus has been demonstrated to be a causative agent for this cancer, a variety of other risk factors are in play, such as sexual and reproductive patterns, socioeconomic, hygienic practices, and diet. The accumulated evidence suggests that cervical cancer is preventable and is highly suitable for primary prevention. The dietary intake of antioxidants and vitamins like vitamin A, carotenoids, vitamin C, folacin and tocopherol is found to have protective effects against cancer of the cervix. Dietary data regarding cervical cancer are still scanty.
Objective:
The present study was therefore undertaken to study the dietary pattern among uterine cervical cancer patients and normal controls.
Materials and Methods:
A total of 60 consecutive patients and 60 controls were enrolled from a referral hospital during the year 2004. A schedule inclusive of the food frequency pattern and 24-h dietary recall along with the general information was administered to all the enrolled subjects to describe findings on the food consumption pattern along with other important factors.
Results:
The mean intake of energy, protein, vitamins, etc., between the cases and controls was not significantly different except for the vitamin C level. Serum vitamin E was found to have lower average in patients as compared to controls. The nutrient intake of cervical cancer patients and controls was grossly deficient in the socioeconomic group studied. With regard to the macronutrient intake, calorie and protein intakes showed a deficit of around 50% when compared to RDA.
Conclusion:
The food consumption profile was not significantly different between cervical cancer patients and normal controls.
INTRODUCTION
Cervical cancer is the second leading malignancy among females in developing countries, including India. The primary underlying cause of the disease is the infection of human papillomavirus (HPV). It usually takes nearly 10–20 years for a precancerous lesion to develop into cancer. Though effective intervention exists, 95% of women in developing countries have never been screened. The factors like the age at marriage, age at consummation of marriage, parity, and history of promiscuity, and the use of oral contraceptives have also proven to be associated with cervical cancer. Dietary patterns have a protective effect against the development of a variety of cancers, particularly those of the epithelial origin.[1] Carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate may reduce the risk of cervical cancer.[2] The increased intake of fruits and vegetables is found to be protective against the incidence of cervical cancer. Low serum carotenoid concentrations may be associated with the risk of developing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The principal nutrients of fruits and vegetables thought to provide protection are antioxidants.[3] Thus, serum carotenoid concentrations may serve as biomarkers of the fruit and vegetable intake. There are limited studies conducted on diet and cervical cancer. Thus, this study attempts to provide data on the food consumption pattern among cervical cancer patients and normal controls.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a hospital-based descriptive study undertaken in New Delhi to study the dietary pattern of cervical cancer patients and normal controls. The Lok Nayak Hospital was selected for the study. A total of 60 consecutive patients along with an equal number of age-matched controls were enrolled for this study. The patients were selected from the Gynecancer Clinic and Radiotherapy OPD and controls were women without cancerous symptoms attending the general gynecology OPD during the period from April to November of 2004. To estimate different levels of food intake in cases and controls, a sample size of 60 each was found to be adequate.
An interview schedule was formulated and the direct personal interview method was adopted wherein general information pertaining to age, occupation, income, marital status, and education, age at marriage, parity, promiscuity, and type of diet was obtained. Twenty-four-hour dietary recall and food frequency methods were used to obtain the information regarding their food intake pattern.
Biochemical analysis of the serum was done only on a subsample of cases (n = 10) and controls (n = 10) due to constraints in the study. The analysis of vitamin C and vitamin E was done by dinitrophenyl hydrazine method[4] and dipyridyl method,[5] respectively.
Statistical methods
The data were coded and were entered into SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), version 10.0, for analysis. The intake of various foods and other variables between cases and controls were compared with parametric and nonparametric tests for independent groups wherever appropriate.
RESULTS
Of the total 60 cervical cancer women enrolled, 70% were undergoing radiotherapy treatment while others were with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. The clinical staging of the selected cases was as follows: 11.7% were with stage Ib, 28.4% with IIa or b while half of the patients were in stage IIIa or b (50%), and 5% were in stage IVa. The rest of the 5% patients belonged to the postoperative group. Sociodemographic factors studied, like the age of the patient, marital status, educational status, income group, and religion are given in Table 1. There was no significant difference between cases and controls with respect to age, marital status, and education. Most of the subjects (98.3%) in both cases and controls were from a lower or poor income group.
Sociodemographic factors | Patients % (n = 60) | Controls % (n = 60) | P-value |
---|---|---|---|
Age at study (years) | |||
25–35 | 15 (9) | 11.7 (7) | N.S. |
36–45 | 33.3 (20) | 45 (27) | |
46–55 | 33.3 (20) | 31.6 (19) | |
56–65 | 18.4 (11) | 11.7 (7) | |
Marital status | |||
Single | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | N.S. |
Married | 86.7 (52) | 76.7 (46) | |
Divorced/widowed | 13.3 (8) | 23.3 (14) | |
Educational status | |||
Illiterate | 73.3 (44) | 70.0 (42) | N.S. |
Primary level | 16.7 (10) | 13.3 (8) | |
Secondary level | 6.7 (4) | 13.3 (8) | |
Graduate | 1.7 (1) | 3.3 (2) | |
Postgraduate | 1.7 (1) | 0.0 (0) | |
Income (per capita) | |||
Very poor (>300) | 8.3 (5) | 30.0 (18) | 0.002 |
Poor (300–1,000) | 60.0 (36) | 61.7 (37) | |
Low (1000–2,000) | 30.0 (18) | 6.7 (4) | |
Medium (2,000–3,000) | 1.7 (1) | 1.7 (1) | |
Religion | |||
Hindu | 95.0 (57) | 40.0 (24) | <0> |
Muslim | 5 (3) | 51.7 (31) | |
Sikh | 0.0 (0) | 5.0 (3) | |
Others | 0.0 (0) | 3.3 (2) |
Sexual and reproductive factors | Patients (n = 60) | Controls (n = 60) | P- value |
---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 47.2 (10.3) | 45.8 (9.2) | N.S. |
Age at marriage (years) | 14.4 (3.7) | 16.7 (4.2) | 0.001 |
Age at first sexual intercourse (years) | 16.2 (1.9) | 17.5 (3.4) | 0.001 |
Age at first child birth (years) | 19.4 (3.7) | 20.5 (4.0) | N.S. |
Parity | |||
0–3 | 23.3% (14) | 41.6% (25) | 0.03 |
>3 | 76.5% (46) | 58.3% (35) | |
Menstrual history | |||
Regular | 10% (6) | 30% (18) | <0> |
Irregular | 21.7% (13) | 40% (24) | |
Menopause | 68.3% (41) | 30% (18) | |
Hygiene pattern (mat. used) | |||
Sanitary napkins | 0% (0) | 1.7% (1) | N.S. |
Homemade cloth pads | 31.7% (19) | 48.3% (29) | |
N.A. | 68.3% (41) | 50% (30) | |
Polygamous husband | |||
Yes | 16.7% (10) | 0% (0) | 0.001 |
No | 83.3% (50) | 100% (60) |
Frequency of consumption | Type | P-value | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Case (n = 60) | Control (n = 60) | ||||
Pulses | Frequent | No. | 22 | 15 | N.S. |
% | 36.7 | 25.0 | |||
Rare | No. | 38 | 45 | ||
% | 63.3 | 75.0 | |||
Green leafy vegetables | Frequent | No. | 10 | 7 | N.S. |
% | 16.7 | 11.7 | |||
Rare | No. | 50 | 53 | ||
% | 83.3 | 88.3 | |||
Tomato | Frequent | No. | 47 | 48 | N.S. |
% | 78.3 | 80 | |||
Rare | No. | 13 | 12 | ||
% | 21.6 | 20 | |||
Carrot | Frequent | No. | 9 | 15 | N.S. |
% | 15.0 | 25.0 | |||
Rare | No. | 51 | 45 | ||
% | 85.0% | 75.0% | |||
Pumpkin | Rare | No. | 60 | 60 | - |
% | 100.0 | 100.0 | |||
Other vegetables | Frequent | No. | 51 | 43 | N.S. |
% | 85.0 | 71.7 | |||
Rare | No. | 9 | 17 | ||
% | 15.0 | 28.3 | |||
Fruits | Frequent | No. | 27 | 19 | N.S. |
% | 45.0 | 31.7 | |||
Rare | No. | 33 | 41 | ||
% | 55.0 | 68.3 | |||
Milk products | Frequent | No. | 36 | 21 | 0.006 |
% | 60.0 | 35.0 | |||
Rare | No. | 24 | 39 | ||
Eggs | Frequent | No. | 4 | 1 | N.S. |
% | 6.7 | 1.7 | |||
Rare | No. | 56 | 59 | ||
% | 93.3 | 98.3 | |||
Meat products | Frequent | No. | 6 | 3 | N.S. |
% | 10.0 | 5.0 | |||
Rare | No. | 54 | 57 | ||
% | 90.0 | 95.0 |
Type | Statistics | Energy | Protein | Fat | Calcium | Fe | Mg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Case | Median | 867.2 | 25.6 | 25.2 | 181.1 | 7.4 | 174.2 |
Minimum | 108.9 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 43.5 | 1.0 | 21.9 | |
Maximum | 2,434.5 | 69.9 | 166.5 | 1,204.9 | 21.4 | 464.0 | |
Control | Median | 764.5 | 22.0 | 22.2 | 164.0 | 7.6 | 174.7 |
Minimum | 309.7 | 10.8 | 1.8 | 78.9 | 2.4 | 24.8 | |
Maximum | 1,680.1 | 45.1 | 61.1 | 675.7 | 18.1 | 385.2 | |
P-value | 0.057 | 0.17 | 0.056 | 0.09 | 0.69 | 0.56 | |
Cu | Zn | β-carotene | Retinol | Vit. B1 | Vit. B2 | ||
Case | Median | 0.9 | 3.1 | 183.3 | 45.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
Minimum | 0.1 | 0.2 | 19.9 | 5.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |
Maximum | 2.3 | 8.1 | 3,108.5 | 794.4 | 1.8 | 1.2 | |
Control | Median | 0.9 | 3.4 | 141.1 | 35.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
Minimum | 0.2 | 0.3 | 60.6 | 15.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | |
Maximum | 37.6 | 251.9 | 1,438.5 | 359.6 | 1.3 | 30.7 | |
P-value | 0.94 | 0.68 | 0.098 | 0.15 | 0.55 | 0.63 | |
Vit. B4 | Vit. B6 | Vit. C | Folic acid | Vit.B12 | Cysteine | ||
Case | Median | 5.1 | 0.0 | 20.3 | 23.8 | 0.1 | 123.3 |
Minimum | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Maximum | 17.6 | 0.6 | 165.7 | 387.2 | 1.2 | 396.5 | |
Control | Median | 5.0 | 0.0 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 0.1 | 98.1 |
Minimum | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 31.5 | |
Maximum | 15.4 | 0.3 | 105.9 | 368.3 | 0.8 | 455.0 | |
P-value | 0.87 | 0.37 | 0.048* | 0.095 | 0.098 | 0.11 |
Parameters | ||
---|---|---|
Vitamin C (mg/dl) | Vitamin E (mg/dl) | |
Case (n = 10), control (n = 10) | Case (n = 10), control (n = 10) | |
Mean ± SD | 0.10 ± 0.07, 0.06 ± 0.01 | 0.59 ± 0.11, 0.76 ± 0.08 |
Normal range | 0.2–1.9 | 0.3–1.2 |
- Willet WC, Mac Mahon. Diet and cancer: An overview. N Engl J Med 1984;310:633-8.
- Lavecchai C, Decarli A, Fasoli M, Parazzini F, Franceschi S, Gentile A, et al. Dietary vitamin A and the risk of intraepithelial and invasive cervical neoplasia. Gynecol Oncol 1988;30:187-95.
- Cadenas E, Packer L. Handbook of antioxidants. New York: Marcel Dekker; 1996. p. 545-91.
- Roe JH. Standard methods in clinical chemistry. Vol 2. In: Seligson D, ed. New York: Academic press; 1961. p. 35.
- Baker H, Frank O. Clinical vitaminology. New York: Wiley; 1968. p. 172.
- Trichopoulou A, Lagio P. Nutritional epidemiology of cancer. In: Cancer. USA: Elsevier Science Ltd; 2003. p. 795-9.
- Marshall JR. High-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia as an exposure biomarker for prostate cancer chemoprevention research. IARC Sci Publ 2001;154:1-8.
- Slawin K, Kadman D, Park SH, Scaedino PT, Anzano M, Sporn MB, et al. Dietary fenretinide, a synthetic tumor mass of ras+myc-induced carcinomas in the mouse prostate reconstitution model system. Cancer Res 1993;53:4461-5.
- Sun SY, Yue P, Mao L, Dawson MI, Shroot B, Lamph WW, et al. Identification of receptor-selective retinoids that are potent inhibitors of the growth of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. Clin Cancer Res 2000;6:1563-73.
- Niles RM. Recent advances in the use of vitamin A (Retinoids) in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Nutrition 2000; 16:1084-9.
- Webber MM, Waghray A. Urokinase-medicated extracellular matrix degradation by human prostatic carcinoma cells and its inhibition by retinoic acid. Clin Res Cancer 1995;7:755-61.
- Ansari MS. Prostate cancer and nutritional issues. Indian J Nutr Dietetes 2002;39:237-44.
- Cross CE. Oxygen radicals and human disease. Ann Intern Med 1987;107:526-45.
- Willcox KJ, Ash LS, Catignani LG. Antioxidants and prevention of chronic diseases. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2004;44:275-95.
- Buckley DI, McPherson RS, North CQ, Becker IM. Dietary micronutrients and cervical dysplasia in south western American Indian women. Nutr Cancer 1992;17:179-85.
- Verrault R, Chu J, Mandelson M, Shy K. A case-control study of diet and invasive cervical cancer. Int J Cancer 1998;43:1050-4.
- Becker TM, Wheeler CM, McGough NS, Parmenter CA, Jordan SW, Stidley CA, et al. Sexually transmitted diseases and other risk factors for cervical dysplasia among southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. J Am Med Assoc 1994;271:1181-8.
- Kanetsky PA, Gammon MD, Mandelblatt J, Zhang ZF, Ramsey E, Dnistrian A, et al. Dietary intake and blood levels of lycopene: Association with cervical dysplasia among non-Hispanic, black women. Nutr Cancer 1998;31:31-9.
- Willet WC, Mac Mahon. Diet and cancer: An overview. N Engl J Med 1984;310:633-8.
- Lavecchai C, Decarli A, Fasoli M, Parazzini F, Franceschi S, Gentile A, et al. Dietary vitamin A and the risk of intraepithelial and invasive cervical neoplasia. Gynecol Oncol 1988;30:187-95.
- Cadenas E, Packer L. Handbook of antioxidants. New York: Marcel Dekker; 1996. p. 545-91.
- Roe JH. Standard methods in clinical chemistry. Vol 2. In: Seligson D, ed. New York: Academic press; 1961. p. 35.
- Baker H, Frank O. Clinical vitaminology. New York: Wiley; 1968. p. 172.
- Trichopoulou A, Lagio P. Nutritional epidemiology of cancer. In: Cancer. USA: Elsevier Science Ltd; 2003. p. 795-9.
- Marshall JR. High-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia as an exposure biomarker for prostate cancer chemoprevention research. IARC Sci Publ 2001;154:1-8.
- Slawin K, Kadman D, Park SH, Scaedino PT, Anzano M, Sporn MB, et al. Dietary fenretinide, a synthetic tumor mass of ras+myc-induced carcinomas in the mouse prostate reconstitution model system. Cancer Res 1993;53:4461-5.
- Sun SY, Yue P, Mao L, Dawson MI, Shroot B, Lamph WW, et al. Identification of receptor-selective retinoids that are potent inhibitors of the growth of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. Clin Cancer Res 2000;6:1563-73.
- Niles RM. Recent advances in the use of vitamin A (Retinoids) in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Nutrition 2000; 16:1084-9.
- Webber MM, Waghray A. Urokinase-medicated extracellular matrix degradation by human prostatic carcinoma cells and its inhibition by retinoic acid. Clin Res Cancer 1995;7:755-61.
- Ansari MS. Prostate cancer and nutritional issues. Indian J Nutr Dietetes 2002;39:237-44.
- Cross CE. Oxygen radicals and human disease. Ann Intern Med 1987;107:526-45.
- Willcox KJ, Ash LS, Catignani LG. Antioxidants and prevention of chronic diseases. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2004;44:275-95.
- Buckley DI, McPherson RS, North CQ, Becker IM. Dietary micronutrients and cervical dysplasia in south western American Indian women. Nutr Cancer 1992;17:179-85.
- Verrault R, Chu J, Mandelson M, Shy K. A case-control study of diet and invasive cervical cancer. Int J Cancer 1998;43:1050-4.
- Becker TM, Wheeler CM, McGough NS, Parmenter CA, Jordan SW, Stidley CA, et al. Sexually transmitted diseases and other risk factors for cervical dysplasia among southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. J Am Med Assoc 1994;271:1181-8.
- Kanetsky PA, Gammon MD, Mandelblatt J, Zhang ZF, Ramsey E, Dnistrian A, et al. Dietary intake and blood levels of lycopene: Association with cervical dysplasia among non-Hispanic, black women. Nutr Cancer 1998;31:31-9.