HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

B vitamins and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Barrett's Esophagus, and Reflux Esophagitis

Study 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 (FFQs). 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 (

Study Information

Sharp L, Carsin AE, Cantwell MM, Anderson LA, Murray LJ; on behalf of the FINBAR study group.
Intakes of Dietary Folate and Other B Vitamins Are Associated with Risks of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Barrett's Esophagus, and Reflux Esophagitis.
J Nutr.
2013 October
National Cancer Registry Ireland, Cork, Ireland