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Legume intake and cancer risk in a network of case-control studies

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Evidence on the relationship between legume consumption and risk of specific cancer sites is inconclusive. We used data from a series of case-controls studies, conducted in Italy and in the Swiss Canton of Vaud between 1991 and 2009 to quantify the association between legume consumption and several cancer sites including oral cavity, esophagus, larynx, stomach, colorectum, breast, endometrium, ovary, prostate and kidney. Multiple logistic regression models controlled for sex, age, education, smoking, alcohol, body mass index, physical activity, comorbidities, and consumption of fruit, vegetables, processed meat and total calorie intake were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for different cancer sites and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals(CI). For female hormone-related cancers, the models also included adjustments for age at menarche, menopausal status and parity. Although most of the estimates were below unity, suggesting a protective effect, only colorectal cancer showed a significant association. Compared to no consumption, the OR for consuming at least one portion of legumes was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.68–0.91), the OR for consuming two or more portions was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.57–0.82) and the estimate for an increment of one portion per week was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81–0.93). The inverse association between legume consumption and colorectal cancer suggests a possible role of legumes in preventing cancer risk.

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The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The raw data used in this paper were taken from data from an integrated network of 16 case control studies that were conducted in Italy and in the Swiss Canton of Vaud. Data collected was supported by the AIRC Foundation the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss National Cancer Research Foundation. LP was supported by a department postdoctoral scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Linia Patel, Carlo La Vecchia & Silvia Mignozzi

  2. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Eva Negri

  3. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS “Fondazione G.Pascale”, Naples, Italy

    Livia S. A. Augustin

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Fabio Levi

  5. Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS, Aviano, Italy

    Diego Serraino

  6. Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition, Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy

    Attilio Giacosa

  7. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy

    Gianfranco Alicandro

  8. Paediatric Department, Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy

    Gianfranco Alicandro

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  1. Linia Patel
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Contributions

Linia Patel and Gianfranco Alicandro conceptualized the study, Gianfranco Alicandro and Linia Patel designed the study, Gianfranco Alicandro performed the data analysis, Linia Patel, Gianfranco Alicandro wrote the original draft and all authors reviewed and edited drafts. Carlo La Vecchia was responsible for overall supervision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Linia Patel.

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Patel, L., La Vecchia, C., Negri, E. et al. Legume intake and cancer risk in a network of case-control studies. Eur J Clin Nutr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01408-w

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