A relation between biochemical tumor markers and dietary factors of healthy men and women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate a relation between tumor makers and dietary factors of healthy adults. We analyzed tumor related markers (CEA, AFP, PSA, CA125) in blood, daily food and nutrient intake by using a 24‐hr recall method to healthy 23 men and 32 women. The average age of subjects was 50.7 years for men and 48.9 years for women. The height and weight were significantly higher in men; meanwhile the body fat was higher in women. There were no substantial differences between the men and women in biochemical tumor markers and food intake. However, daily energy intake of the men was significantly higher than that of the women (2279.2 kcal vs. 1541.4 kcal, P<0.01). Blood CEA, a general biomarker of various cancers, had a significant and negative correlation with men's energy intake and women's food intake. There was a significant and positive correlation between blood AFP, biochemical markers of liver cancer, and serum GOR/GPT in both men and women. Blood PSA, biomarker of prostate cancer in men, is significantly and positively correlated with animal iron intake. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between biochemical tumor markers and dietary factor.