Intakes of dietary folate and other B vitamins are associated with risks of esophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett's esophagus, and reflux esophagitis

Linda Sharp, Anne-Elie Carsin, Marie M Cantwell, Lesley A Anderson, Liam J Murray, FINBAR Study Group

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Folate is implicated in carcinogenesis via effects on DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation. Efficient folate metabolism requires other B vitamins and is adversely affected by smoking and alcohol. Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) may develop through a process involving inflammation [reflux esophagitis (RE)] leading to metaplasia [Barrett’s esophagus (BE)] and carcinoma. Within a population-based, case-control study, we investigated associations between dietary folate and related factors and risks of EAC, BE, and RE. EAC and BE cases had histologically confirmed disease; RE cases had endoscopically visible inflammation. Controls, age-sex frequency matched to EAC cases, were selected through population and general practice registers. Participants underwent structured interviews and completed food-frequency questionnaires. Multivariate ORs and 95% CIs were computed using logistic regression. A total of 256 controls and 223 EAC, 220 BE, and 219 RE cases participated. EAC risk decreased with increasing folate intake (OR highest vs. lowest = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.31, 1.00; P-trend < 0.01). Similar trends were found for BE (P-trend < 0.01) and RE (P-trend = 0.01). Vitamin B-6 intake was significantly inversely related to risks of all 3 lesions. Riboflavin intake was inversely associated with RE. Vitamin B-12 intake was positively associated with EAC. For EAC, there was a borderline significant interaction between folate intake and smoking (P-interaction = 0.053); compared with nonsmokers with high (≥median) folate intake, current smokers with low intakes (<median) had an 8-fold increased risk (OR: 8.15; 95% CI: 3.61, 18.40). The same group had increased BE risk (OR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.24, 6.92; P-interaction = 0.12). Folate and other dietary methyl-group factors are implicated in the etiology of EAC and its precursors.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1966-73
Number of pages8
JournalThe Journal of Nutrition
Volume143
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Aged
  • Barrett Esophagus
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diet
  • Esophageal Neoplasms
  • Esophagitis, Peptic
  • Female
  • Folic Acid
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Vitamin B Complex

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