Soy and isoflavone intake associated with reduced risk of ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.

Isoflavones, mainly found in soy, have been shown to inhibit ovarian cancer cell proliferation. We hypothesized that soy consumption and isoflavone intake are related to the risk of ovarian cancer. A case-control study was conducted in southern China to ascertain this hypothesis. Five hundred incident patients with histologically confirmed cancer of the ovary and 500 controls (mean age 59 years) were recruited from four public hospitals in Guangzhou. Information on habitual consumption of soy foods, including soybean, soy milk, fresh tofu, dried tofu, and soybean sprout, was obtained face-to-face from participants through a validated and reliable semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Isoflavone intakes were then estimated using the USDA nutrient database. The ovarian cancer patients reported lower consumption levels of individual and total soy foods (75.3 ± 53.6 g/day) compared to the controls (110.7 ± 88.8 g/day). Logistic regression analyses showed that regular intake of soy foods could reduce the ovarian cancer risk, the adjusted odds ratio being 0.29 (95% confidence interval 0.20 to 0.42) for women who consumed at least 120 g/day relative to those less than 61 g/day. Similarly, isoflavone intakes were inversely associated with the ovarian cancer risk, with significant dose-response relationships (P < 0.001). We concluded that consumption of soy foods is associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.

Accuracy of self-reported anthropometric measures in older Australian adults.

AIM: To determine the accuracy of self-reported anthropometric measurements in older Australian adults 60-70 years. METHOD: Self-reported anthropometric data from 103 community-dwelling participants (mean age 66 years) were compared with technician measurements. Difference and agreement were assessed using paired t-tests, correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: Underreporting occurred for weight and hip circumference, especially among men, whereas waist circumference was slightly overreported, resulting in apparent underestimations of body mass index (by 0.42 kg/m(2) ) but overestimations of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR, by 0.02). Concordance correlation coefficients were generally high except for WHR. Self-reported circumference measures appeared to be more accurate than the derived WHR. The Bland-Altman plots revealed wide limits of agreement for all measures. CONCLUSION: Self-reported values correlated well with technician measured values and average discrepancies were small. However, use of self-reported anthropometric data may be used more appropriately for describing overall distribution in population studies than for monitoring changes at an individual level.

Mushroom intake and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between mushroom consumption and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was undertaken in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, from 2006 to 2008. Participants were 500 incident patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and 500 controls, with a mean (SD) age of 59 (6) years. Information on habitual mushroom consumption was obtained by face-to-face interview using a validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between mushroom intake and the ovarian cancer risk. RESULTS: The patients with ovarian cancer consumed less mushrooms (mean [SD], 28.48 [37.45] g/d) than did controls (mean [SD], 30.75 [41.85] g/d). Apparent reductions in cancer risk were found at high levels of intake, especially for the common white button mushroom with adjusted odds ratios 0.68 (95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.89) for women consuming more than 2 g per day relative to those who consume less than that (P = 0.005). Decreases in risk at high levels of intake were also observed for serous and mucinous subtypes of epithelial ovarian tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Intake of mushrooms, particularly white button mushroom, seemed to be inversely associated with the incidence of epithelial ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.

Reproductive factors for ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between reproductive factors and the risk of ovarian cancer among southern Chinese women. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was undertaken in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, between 2006 and 2008. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on parity, oral contraceptive use and other reproductive factors in a sample of 500 incident ovarian cancer patients and 500 controls (mean age, 59 years). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: High parity was inversely associated with ovarian cancer, with an adjusted OR 0.43 (95% CI, 0.30 to 0.62) for women who had given birth to 3 or more children compared to women who had given no more than one birth. Ever use of oral contraceptives was also protective against ovarian cancer; adjusted OR 0.56 (95% CI, 0.40 to 0.78). No association was found for hormone replacement therapy, menopausal status, hysterectomy and family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer. CONCLUSION: High parity and oral contraceptive use are associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.

Preserved foods associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between consumption of preserved foods and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was undertaken in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, from 2006 to 2008. Participants were 500 incident epithelial ovarian cancer patients and 500 controls, with a mean age 59 years. Information on habitual food consumption was obtained by face-to-face interview using a validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between preserved foods intake and the ovarian cancer risk. RESULTS: The ovarian cancer patients consumed more preserved foods (median 15.5, interquartile range (IQR) 18.2g/day) than controls (median 13.8, IQR 20.5 g/day), p<0.001. The adjusted odds ratios of ovarian cancer was 1.78 (95% confidence interval 1.35 to 2.34) for women consuming more than 13.5 g of preserved vegetables and preserved meats per day relative to those below. Similar two-fold increases in risk at high level of intake were also evident for serous and mucinous subtypes of epithelial ovarian tumours. CONCLUSION: Intake of preserved foods was positively associated with the incidence of epithelial ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.

Ovarian cancer risk is reduced by prolonged lactation: a case-control study in southern China.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is an important neoplasm that is difficult to diagnose and treat; therefore, prevention is the preferable strategy. Growing evidence indicates a protective effect of breastfeeding on ovarian cancer risk. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the association between lactation and the risk of ovarian cancer among southern Chinese women. DESIGN: A case-control study was undertaken in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, between August 2006 and July 2008. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used to obtain information on the months of lactation and number of children breastfed in a sample of 493 incident ovarian cancer patients and 472 hospital-based controls (mean age: 59 y). Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between breastfeeding and the risk of ovarian cancer. RESULTS: Significant inverse dose-response relations were found for both duration of lactation and the number of children breastfed. The adjusted ORs were 0.09 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.19) for women with ≥31 mo of total lactation and those with ≤10 mo of lactation and 0.38 (95% CI: 0.27, 0.55) for women with ≥3 children breastfed compared with those with one child breastfed. CONCLUSION: Prolonged lactation is associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer in parous Chinese women.

Tea consumption reduces ovarian cancer risk.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the relationship between tea drinking and the risk of ovarian cancer among southern Chinese women, a case-control study was conducted in southern China during 2006-2008. METHODS: Five hundred incident patients with histologically confirmed epithelial carcinoma of the ovary and 500 controls (mean age 59 years) were recruited from four public hospitals in Guangzhou. Information on frequency, quantity and duration of tea drinking, amount of dried tea leaves brewed, together with habitual diet and lifestyle characteristics, was obtained face-to-face from participants using a validated and reliable questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between tea consumption variables and the ovarian cancer risk. RESULTS: The control subjects reported higher tea consumption levels and prevalence (78.8%) than the ovarian cancer patients (51.4%). Regular drinking of green tea, black tea and/or oolong tea was associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer, the adjusted odds ratio being 0.29 (95% confidence interval 0.22-0.39) after accounting for confounding factors. When compared with non-drinkers, apparent inverse dose-response relationships were observed for years of drinking, number of cups and quantity of tea consumed, as well as amount of dried tea leaves brewed (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Regular tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer for southern Chinese women.

Habitual physical activity reduces risk of ovarian cancer: a case-control study in southern China.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the relationship between habitual physical activity and the risk of ovarian cancer among southern Chinese women. METHOD: A case-control study was conducted in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, during 2006-2008. Information on physical activity exposure and lifestyle characteristics was obtained from 500 incident ovarian cancer patients and 500 hospital-based controls (mean age 59 years) using a validated and reliable questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between physical activity levels and the ovarian cancer risk. RESULTS: The control subjects reported significantly longer duration of strenuous sports and moderate activity in daily life than the ovarian cancer patients. Increased engagements in such leisure time activities were associated with reduced cancer risks after adjustment for confounding factors. A significant inverse dose-response relationship was also found for total physical activity exposure, with adjusted odds ratio 0.49 (95% confidence interval 0.35-0.68) for women engaged in 23 or more metabolic equivalent tasks (MET)-hours per week relative to those less than 12 MET-hours per week. CONCLUSION: The study provided evidence of an inverse association between habitual physical activity and the risk of ovarian cancer, which is important for the promotion and encouragement of leisure time exercise activities to prevent the disease.

Is body size associated with ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women?

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between risk of ovarian cancer and body size among southern Chinese women. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was undertaken in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, from 2006 to 2008. Participants were 500 incident ovarian cancer patients and 500 controls, with a mean age of 59 years. Information on adult height and weight was obtained via face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between anthropometric factors and the ovarian cancer risk. RESULTS: Compared with women having body weight ≤50 kg and body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m(2), the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of ovarian cancer were 1.84 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.34-2.54) and 1.77 (95 % CI 1.04-3.02) in those women who had body weight >55 kg and BMI ≥23 kg/m(2), respectively. Significant dose-response relationships were also observed for both weight and BMI (p < 0.01). Body height was not significantly associated with ovarian cancer risk. CONCLUSION: Body weight and BMI were associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.

Effects of a physical activity and nutrition program for seniors on body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a home-based program, physical activity and nutrition for seniors (PANS), made positive changes to central obesity, measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). METHODS: A 6-month randomised controlled trial was conducted targeting overweight and sedentary older adults aged 60 to 70 years residing in low to medium socio-economic suburbs within metropolitan Perth. Intervention participants (n=248) received mailed materials and telephone/email support to improve nutrition and physical activity levels. Controls (n=230) received small incentives to complete baseline and post-intervention questionnaires. Both groups reported anthropometric measures following specific written instructions. Generalised estimating equation models were used to assess repeated outcomes of BMI and WHR over both time points. RESULTS: 176 intervention and 199 controls (response rate 78.5%) with complete data were available for analysis. After controlling for demographic and other confounding factors, the intervention group demonstrated a small (0.02) but significant reduction in WHR (p=0.03) compared to controls, no apparent change in BMI was evident for both groups. The 0.02 reduction in mean WHR corresponded to a 2.11 cm decrease in waist circumference for a typical hip circumference. CONCLUSION: PANS appears to improve the WHR of participants. Changes in BMI might require a longer term intervention to take effect, and/or a follow-up study to confirm its sustainability.