Gluten Intake Not Associated With GI Cancer Risk
Douglas K. Rex, MD, MASGE, reviewing Wang Y, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 Nov 17.
Gluten exposure triggers an immune reaction in celiac disease that is associated with an increased risk of GI cancers. In this study, the effect of gluten on GI cancer risk was assessed in non-celiac patients using the Nurses’ Health studies and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.
With 4.8 million person-years of follow-up, the hazard ratio for digestive cancers associated with gluten intake was 0.94 (not significant), comparing the highest and lowest gluten intake quintiles. No effect was found for oral cavity or oral pharyngeal cancer, or esophageal, stomach, small bowel, colorectal, pancreatic, gall bladder, or liver cancer.
COMMENTFinally, some good news for those who enjoy sandwiches.
Note to readers: At the time we reviewed this paper, its publisher noted that it was not in final form and that subsequent changes might be made.
CITATION(S)
Wang Y, Cao Y, Lebwohl B, et al. Gluten intake and risk of digestive system cancers in 3 large prospective cohort studies. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 Nov 17. (Epub ahead of print) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2021.11.016)
