Study of the trace element status and the dietary intake of mineral and trace elements in relation to the gastric cancer incidence in Tachira, Venezuela

In order to investigate the trace element status of the population and the dietary factors that might be related to the high incidence of gastric canc er (GC) in the state of Tachira, Venezuela, a study was performed in region s with high and low incidence of this neoplasm. The high-incidence areas ar e located in the Andes at an altitude of over 800 meters above sea level. T he low-incidence regions are in the plains that surround the mountains, wit h an altitude below 400 meters. The study group consits of 44 gastric cance r patients and 50 control persons from the high risk areas as well as 46 co ntrols from the so-called low risk area. Blood, hair, toe-nails and total diets including breakfast, lunch, supper, snacks and drinks from the whole-day intake of 140 adults were collected. T he collection of the total diet was made according to the double portion te chnique. ICP-AES and INAA were used for the determination of Cu, Fe, Co, Rb, Se, Rb and Zn in the body monitors and Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Se and Zn in the total diets. There were no significant differences in the serum trace elements content o f the females (GC and controls) of the high risk area as compared with the controls of the low risk area. Se and Rb in serum were found significantly lower in males of the GC-group as compared with their respective controls. Vitamin E in serum for both control groups of females (median 12.25 mg/L, n =20) and males (median 11.55 mg/L, n=30) were significant higher when they were comparared with their respective cases (median 10.26 mg/L, n=17 versus median 7.45 mg/L, n=26). The results of the mean daily dietary intake of the population showed for t he high mountain valleys (high incidence n=77) as compared to the plains (l ow incidence n=33) significantly higher daily intake with respect to Na (20 82 mg vs. 1471 mg), K (1190 mg vs. 731 mg), P (640 mg vs. 381 mg) and a sig nificantly lower daily intake with respect to Ca (925 mg vs. 1379 mg) and C u (2,78 mg vs. 4,66 mg). No differences were obtained with respect to Al, F e, Mg, Se and Zn.