Prospective study of the association of meat consumption with risk of gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma

The association between meat consumption and risk of gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma (GC/EAC) is not clear. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study enrolled 131,426 men and 318,686 women. Over 14.1 years of follow-up, 876 GC and 215 EAC cases were identified. Among the GC cases, 233 were located in cardia ane 329 in non-cardia regions. Histologically, 624 were classified as intestinal type and 208 as diffuse type. Multivariable Cox models revealed that a 30 g/day increase in processed meat consumption was associated with a 9% (95% CI 2-17) increase in GC risk and 13% (0-27) increase in EAC risk. A 20 g/day increase in white meat consumption was associated with a 12% (95% CI 2-24) increase in non-cardia GC risk. Processed meat was also associated with intestinal GC (11%; 95% CI 2-22) and higher consumption with diffuse GC. Processed meat was positively associated with GC among men while processed meat and white meat both were positively associated with GC among women. The authors conclude that processed meat consumption may increase the risk of GC and EAC; further research is needed to clarify the effects of white meat consumption (graphical abstract).