High dietary acid load is associated with prostate cancer risk: an epidemiological study

WCRJ 2021; 8: e2119
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_202111_2119

  Topic: Epidemiology, Genitourinary cancer, Nutrition and cancer     Category:

Ronco A. L.
Unit of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Pereira Rossell Women’s Hospital, Montevideo, Uruguay
alv.ronco58@gmail.com Close
, Storz M. A.
Center for Complementary Medicine, Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany Close
, Martínez-López W.
Epigenetics and Genomics Instability Laboratory and Biodosimetry Service, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay Close
, Calderón J. M.
Biomedical Sciences Center, University of Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay Close
, Golomar W.
Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Montevideo, Uruguay Close

Abstract



Objective: Dietary acid load contributes to metabolic acidosis, which leads to inflammation and cell transformation, closely linked to cancer development. The epidemiologic evidence associating diet-dependent acid load and cancer risk, particularly for prostate cancer, is severely limited, based on a single study. Therefore, we sought to explore this association in the present study.




Patients and Methods: A case-control study was performed in 1292 patients (323 cases and 969 age-frequency and urban/rural residence matched controls), through a multi-topic inquiry including a food frequency questionnaire. Food-derived nutrients were calculated from available databases. Dietary acid load was calculated based on two validated measures (Potential Renal Acid Load score and Net Endogenous Acid Production score). Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated by logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. 




Results: We found direct associations between dietary acid load and prostate cancer risk. Both acid load scores were significantly associated with an increased prostate cancer risk (odds ratios =1.56 and =1.81 for highest Potential Renal Acid Load and Net Endogenous Acid Production, respectively). Linear trends were found in both risk estimates.




Conclusions: A high dietary acid load may contribute to prostate cancer development. Both acid load scores were directly associated with animal-based foods (mainly meat) intake, and inversely associated with plant-based foods intake. Our findings are consistent with previous studies associating certain dietary patterns with an increased prostate cancer risk. However, further research is warranted to confirm the present findings.

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To cite this article

Ronco A. L.
Unit of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Pereira Rossell Women’s Hospital, Montevideo, Uruguay
alv.ronco58@gmail.com Close
, Storz M. A.
Center for Complementary Medicine, Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany Close
, Martínez-López W.
Epigenetics and Genomics Instability Laboratory and Biodosimetry Service, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay Close
, Calderón J. M.
Biomedical Sciences Center, University of Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay Close
, Golomar W.
Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Montevideo, Uruguay Close
High dietary acid load is associated with prostate cancer risk: an epidemiological study

WCRJ 2021; 8: e2119
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_202111_2119

Publication History

Submission date: 22 Jul 2021

Revised on: 13 Sep 2021

Accepted on: 15 Nov 2021

Published online: 26 Nov 2021