DIETARY ASSOCIATIONS IN A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

Despite the established role of obesity in the etiology of endometrial cancer, limited data are available from analytical epidemiologic stud ies on the association of risk with dietary factors. A case-control st udy of 399 cases and 296 controls conducted in five areas of the Unite d States from 1 June 1987 to 15 May 1990, enabled evaluation of risk r elated to dietary intakes adjusted for potential confounders. Caloric intake was associated modestly with increased risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.9-2.5 for highest cf lowe st quartiles of intake), with the principal contributors being fat and protein calories. After adjustment for other risk factors, including body mass, increased risk was associated with higher intakes of fat. S everal components of fat investigated were associated with increased r isk, although associations were slightly stronger for saturated fat (O R = 2.1, CI = 1.2-3.7) and oleic acid (OR = 2.2, CI = 1.2-4.0) than fo r linoleic acid (OR = 1.6, CI = 0.9-2.8). Food-group analyses showed i ntake of complex carbohydrates-and specifically of breads and cereals- associated with reduced risks (OR = 0.6, CI = 0.4-1.1), whereas animal fat and fried foods were associated with elevated risks (OR = 1.5 and 1.7, respectively). The relations of endometrial cancer with animal f at and complex carbohydrates were independent. No consistent associati ons were noted for intakes of cholesterol, fiber, vitamins A and C, in dividual carotenoids, or folate-rich foods. These data imply an etiolo gic role for a diet rich in total fat and/or animal fat and low in com plex carbohydrates with endometrial cancer. These associations are con sistent with a hormonal mechanism and were independent of the associat ions of obesity and other risk factors.