Case-Control Study of Diet and Prostate Cancer in a Rural Population of Faisalabad, Pakistan

Background: The effects of diet on epidemiology of prostate cancer are inconclusive. Therefore a hospitalbased,case-control study was conducted in a rural population of Faisalabad, Pakistan, to examine the impact ofdietary factors on risk of cancer development. Materials and
Methods: This study was based on 102 confirmedcases of prostate cancer and 204 normal controls. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95%confidence intervals for odds ratios to evaluate the relationship between prostate cancer and diet.
Results:Consumption of red meat and fat items significantly increased the prostate cancer risk having odds ratios and 95%confidence intervals of 3.41; 1.46-7.96 and 2.45; 1.17-5.15, respectively. On the other hand, more consumption ofvegetables, fluid intake and fruit significantly decreased the prostate cancer risk (odd ratios and corresponding95% confidence intervals of 0.21; 0.10-0.44, 0.10; 0.05- 0.19 and 0.09; 0.03- 0.23, respectively.
Conclusions: Thepresent study supports the hypothesis that frequent consumption of red meat and fat items may increase prostatecancer risk while more intake of fruit, vegetables and fluid intake may protect against prostate cancer in therelatively low risk group in rural Pakistan.