Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Inflammatory potential of diet and risk of laryngeal cancer in a case–control study from Italy

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Besides tobacco and alcohol, diet and inflammation have been suggested to be important risk factors for laryngeal cancer. In this study, we examined the role of diet-associated inflammation, as estimated by dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores, in laryngeal cancer in a multicentre case–control study conducted between 1992 and 2000 in Italy.

Methods

This study included 460 cases with incident, histologically confirmed laryngeal cancer, and 1,088 controls hospitalized for acute non-neoplastic diseases unrelated to tobacco and alcohol consumption. DII scores were computed from a reproducible and valid 78-item food-frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression models controlling for age, sex, study center, education, body mass index, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and non-alcohol energy intake were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Subjects with higher DII scores (i.e., with a more pro-inflammatory diet) had a higher risk of laryngeal cancer. The OR was 3.30 (95 % CI 2.06, 5.28; p for trend <0.0001) for the highest versus the lowest DII quartile. When DII was considered as a continuous variable, the OR was 1.27 (95 % CI 1.15, 1.40) for a one-unit (9 % of the DII range) increase. Stratified analyses produced slightly stronger associations between DII and laryngeal cancer risk among Subjects <60 years old (ORquartile4vs1 = 4.68), overweight subjects (ORQuartile4vs1 = 3.62), and among those with higher education (ORQuartile4vs1 = 3.92). We also observed a strong combined effect of higher DII and tobacco smoking or alcohol consumption on risk of laryngeal cancer. Compared with non-smokers having low DII scores, the OR was 6.64 for smokers with high DII scores. Likewise, compared with non/moderate drinkers with low DII, the OR was 5.82 for heavy drinkers with high DII.

Conclusion

These results indicate that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with increased risk of laryngeal cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hashibe M, Brennan P, Chuang SC, Boccia S, Castellsague X, Chen C et al (2009) Interaction between tobacco and alcohol use and the risk of head and neck cancer: pooled analysis in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 18(2):541–550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bonomi M, Patsias A, Posner M, Sikora A (2014) The role of inflammation in head and neck cancer. Adv Exp Med Biol 816:107–127

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Edefonti V, Hashibe M, Ambrogi F, Parpinel M, Bravi F, Talamini R et al (2012) Nutrient-based dietary patterns and the risk of head and neck cancer: a pooled analysis in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium. Ann Oncol 23(7):1869–1880

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Continuous Update Project Report (2007) Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of mouth, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. World Cancer Research Fund International, Washington, DC. http://www.wcrf.org/int/research-we-fund/continuous-update-project-findings-reports/mouth-pharyngeal-and-laryngeal

  5. Keibel A, Singh V, Sharma MC (2009) Inflammation, microenvironment, and the immune system in cancer progression. Curr Pharm Des 15(17):1949–1955

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Pan MH, Lai CS, Dushenkov S, Ho CT (2009) Modulation of inflammatory genes by natural dietary bioactive compounds. J Agric Food Chem 57(11):4467–4477

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Tezal M, Scannapieco FA, Wactawski-Wende J, Hyland A, Marshall JR, Rigual NR et al (2012) Local inflammation and human papillomavirus status of head and neck cancers. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 138(7):669–675

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Shivappa N, Steck SE, Hurley TG, Hussey JR, Hebert JR (2014) Designing and developing a literature-derived, population-based dietary inflammatory index. Public Health Nutr 17(8):1689–1696

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Shivappa N, Steck SE, Hurley TG, Hussey JR, Ma Y, Ockene IS, Tabung F, Hebert JR (2013) A population-based dietary inflammatory index predicts levels of C-reactive protein in the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study (SEASONS). Public Health Nutr 10:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wirth MD, Burch J, Shivappa N, Violanti JM, Burchfiel CM, Fekedulegn D et al (2014) Association of a dietary inflammatory index with inflammatory indices and metabolic syndrome among police officers. J Occup Environ Med 56(9):986–989

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Wood LG, Shivappa N, Berthon BS, Gibson PG, Hebert JR (2015) Dietary inflammatory index is related to asthma risk, lung function and systemic inflammation in asthma. Clin Exp Allergy 45(1):177–183

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Shivappa N, Hebert JR, Rietzschel ER, De Buyzere ML, Langlois M, Debruyne E, Huybrecht I (2015) Association between dietary inflammatory index and inflammatory markers in Asklepios study. Br J Nutr 113:665–671

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Shivappa N, Zucchetto A, Serraino D, Rossi M, La Vecchia C, Hebert JR (2015) Dietary inflammatory index and risk of esophageal squamous cell cancer in a case–control study from Italy. Cancer Causes Control 26(10):1439–1447

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Shivappa N, Hebert JR, Rashidkhani B (2015) Dietary inflammatory index and risk of esophageal squamous cell cancer in a case–control study from Iran. Nutr Cancer 67(8):1253–1259

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Shivappa N, Zucchetto A, Montella M, Serraino D, Steck SE, La Vecchia C et al (2015) Inflammatory potential of diet and risk of colorectal cancer: a case–control study from Italy. Br J Nutr 114(1):152–158

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Shivappa N, Bosetti C, Zucchetto A, Serraino D, La Vecchia C, Hébert JR (2015) Dietary inflammatory index and risk of pancreatic cancer in an Italian case–control study. Br J Nutr 113(2):292–298

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Shivappa N, Hebert JR, Polesel J, Zucchetto A, Crispo A, Montella M et al (2016) Inflammatory potential of diet and risk for hepatocellular cancer in a case–control study from Italy. Br J Nutr 115(2):324–331

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Shivappa N, Bosetti C, Zucchetto A, Montella M, Serraino D, La Vecchia C et al (2015) Association between dietary inflammatory index and prostate cancer among Italian men. Br J Nutr 113(2):278–283

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Shivappa N, Hebert JR, Zucchetto A, Montella M, Serraino D, La Vecchia C et al (2016) Dietary inflammatory index and endometrial cancer risk in an Italian case–control study. Br J Nutr 115(1):138–146

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Edefonti V, Bravi F, Garavello W, La Vecchia C, Parpinel M, Franceschi S et al (2010) Nutrient-based dietary patterns and laryngeal cancer: evidence from an exploratory factor analysis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 19(1):18–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Franceschi S, Negri E, Salvini S, Decarli A, Ferraroni M, Filiberti R et al (1993) Reproducibility of an Italian food frequency questionnaire for cancer studies: results for specific food items. Eur J Cancer 29A(16):2298–2305

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Decarli A, Franceschi S, Ferraroni M, Gnagnarella P, Parpinel MT, La Vecchia C et al (1996) Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intakes in cancer studies in Italy. Results for specific nutrients. Ann Epidemiol 6(2):110–118

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Salvini S, Parpinel M, Gnagnarella P, Maisonneuve P, Turrini A (1998) Banca dati di composizione degli alimenti per studi epidemiologici in Italia. Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milano

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rothman K (ed) (2002) Epidemiology: an introduction. In: Measuring interactions. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 168–80

  25. Hosmer DW, Lemeshow S (1992) Confidence interval estimation of interaction. Epidemiology 3(5):452–456

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Garavello W, Rossi M, McLaughlin JK, Bosetti C, Negri E, Lagiou P et al (2007) Flavonoids and laryngeal cancer risk in Italy. Ann Oncol 18(6):1104–1109

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Pelucchi C, Talamini R, Levi F, Bosetti C, La Vecchia C, Negri E et al (2003) Fibre intake and laryngeal cancer risk. Ann Oncol 14(1):162–167

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Bidoli E, Bosetti C, La Vecchia C, Levi F, Parpinel M, Talamini R et al (2003) Micronutrients and laryngeal cancer risk in Italy and Switzerland: a case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 14(5):477–484

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Edefonti V, Hashibe M, Parpinel M, Turati F, Serraino D, Matsuo K et al (2015) Natural vitamin C intake and the risk of head and neck cancer: a pooled analysis in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium. Int J Cancer 137(2):448–462

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Galeone C, Tavani A, Pelucchi C, Turati F, Winn DM, Levi F et al (2010) Coffee and tea intake and risk of head and neck cancer: pooled analysis in the international head and neck cancer epidemiology consortium. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 19(7):1723–1736

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Edefonti V, Hashibe M, Parpinel M, Ferraroni M, Turati F, Serraino D et al (2015) Vitamin E intake from natural sources and head and neck cancer risk: a pooled analysis in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium. Br J Cancer 113(1):182–192

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Pries R, Wollenberg B (2006) Cytokines in head and neck cancer. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 17(3):141–146

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Ferraroni M, Decarli A, Franceschi S, La Vecchia C, Enard L, Negri E et al (1996) Validity and reproducibility of alcohol consumption in Italy. Int J Epidemiol 25(4):775–782

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. D’Avanzo B, La Vecchia C, Katsouyanni K, Negri E, Trichopoulos D (1996) Reliability of information on cigarette smoking and beverage consumption provided by hospital controls. Epidemiology 7(3):312–315

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Bosetti C, Gallus S, Trichopoulou A, Talamini R, Franceschi S, Negri E et al (2003) Influence of the Mediterranean diet on the risk of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 12(10):1091–1094

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was supported by the Italian Foundation for Research on Cancer (FIRC) and by the Italian Ministry of Health, General Directorate of European and International Relations. Drs. Shivappa and Hébert were supported by Grant No. R44DK103377 from the United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Dr. Valentina Rosato was supported by a fellowship from the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research (FIRC #18107).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Nitin Shivappa & James R. Hébert

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Nitin Shivappa & James R. Hébert

  3. Connecting Health Innovations LLC, Columbia, SC, 29201, USA

    Nitin Shivappa & James R. Hébert

  4. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    James R. Hébert

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

    Valentina Rosato & Carlo La Vecchia

  6. Unit of Medical Statistics, Biometry and Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy

    Valentina Rosato

  7. Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy

    Diego Serraino

Authors
  1. Nitin Shivappa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James R. Hébert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Valentina Rosato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Diego Serraino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carlo La Vecchia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nitin Shivappa.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Dr. James R. Hébert owns controlling interest in Connecting Health Innovations LLC (CHI), a company planning to license the right to his invention of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) from the University of South Carolina in order to develop computer and smart phone applications for patient counseling and dietary intervention in clinical settings. Dr. Nitin Shivappa is an employee of CHI.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shivappa, N., Hébert, J.R., Rosato, V. et al. Inflammatory potential of diet and risk of laryngeal cancer in a case–control study from Italy. Cancer Causes Control 27, 1027–1034 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-016-0781-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-016-0781-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation