Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the independent and joint effects of tea and milk consumption on oral cancer risk among non-smokers and non-drinkers (NS/ND). A hospital-based case-control study was performed in Fujian, China. 421 cases and frequency-matched 1398 controls were included without tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking habits. Unconditional logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship of tea and milk consumption with oral cancer risk. Tea and milk consumption were significantly associated with decreased risk of oral cancer, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were 0.73 (95% CI: 0.54-0.97) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.55-0.88), respectively. According to subgroup analysis, the inverse associations between tea consumption and oral cancer risk were only observed among the elders (>60 years) and urban residents. While the protect effect of milk drinking was more obvious in males, normal body mass index population (18.5–23.9), urban residents and those age ≤ 60 years. Additionally, a significantly multiplicative interaction between tea and milk consumption was observed for oral cancer risk (P = 0.001). The present study is the first to simultaneously assess the association of tea consumption and milk drinking with oral cancer risk. The results suggest that tea and milk consumption are independent protective factors for oral cancer among NS/ND, with a joint effect between them.
Highlights
Oral cancer, a major subgroup of head and neck carcinoma, ranks the eighth most frequent cancer worldwide [1]
After adjustment for potential confounders, tea and milk consumption were significantly associated with decreased risk of oral cancer, the adjusted odds ratios were 0.73 and 0.69, respectively
The significantly additive interaction was not observed (RPRI: -0.19, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): -0.60 to 0.23; attributable proportion (AP): -0.44, 95% CI: -1.45 to 0.58; synergy index (SI): 1.49, 95% CI: 0.51 to 4.35; data not shown). In this hospital-based case-control study, tea or milk consumption showed a protective effect against oral cancer among non-smokers and non-drinkers (NS/ND)
Summary
A major subgroup of head and neck carcinoma, ranks the eighth most frequent cancer worldwide [1]. The age-standardized incidence rate of oral cancer in China was 2.22 per 100,000 and 0.9 per 100,000 as mortality rate in 2011 [2]. Tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking are considered as the main risk factors [3, 4]. There are not all smokers and drinkers developing oral cancer, which suggests that other factors may play potential roles in the etiology of this disease. Tea is the most consumed beverage in China, especially for the population in Fujian province, and the major types are green tea and black tea. It is well known that tea is characterized by a high content of polyphenols which has been identified to inhabit the tumor growth www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget
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