Association between retinol intake and risk of gastric cancer: a case-control study in a Korean population

Objectives: Gastric cancer has the fifth highest incidence among cancers in the world and is the most common cancer in South Korea. Several studies suggested a protective role of retinol in oesophageal, liver, lung, and breast cancer, while this effect was still inconsistent in gastric cancer.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study that included 415 cases and 830 controls at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Korea. Dietary information of the participants was collected using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ) covering 106 food items. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to investigate the association between retinol intake and risk of gastric cancer.

Results: The highest consumption of retinol intake was significantly associated with lower odds of gastric cancer in the total subjects (odds ratio (OR)=0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.37–0.89), and among women (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.21–0.89), but not among men (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.41–1.26). After stratifying by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, we identified a reduced risk of gastric cancer when consuming the highest level of retinol intake only among H. pylori-positive patients. This trend was demonstrated in the subgroups of current drinkers and those who had not smoked without adjustment for H. pylori infection.

Conclusion: Retinol intake was proved as a protective factor against gastric cancer,  and this effect remained among women and patients with H. pylori infection even after adjustment for multivariable.

File download

Related article

• The care needs of dementia patients in Nam Dong District, Thua Thien Hue Province: An observational study using the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly questionnaire
• Preventive Measures Against Monkeypox: A Scoping Review
• How KoboToolbox versus Unipark platform are selected in data survey to detect child maltreatment in Vietnam: A discussion paper
• Respiratory function of workers at some wood factories in Bac Tu Liem district, 2022
• Mental health of people with and without disabilities in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Cause-specific mortality in A6 death registration system: results from a population-based study in Hanoi 2017, Vietnam
• Stress situation and associated factors among nursre in clinical departments at Sa Dec General Hospital, Dong Thap province, in 2021
• Short-term effects of air pollution on respiratory hospitalizations in Ha Nam, during 2018-2020
• Quality of life of type 2 diabetes outpatients and the associated factors: A cross-sectional study at Ha Dong General Hospital in 2020
• Perception of patient safety and associated factors among health staff: A cross-sectional study in some hospitals in Vietnam
• Applying tools to support human resource management in HIV/AIDS prevention and control in 7 provinces: Initial results on the appropriateness and scalability
• Stress of the mothers in caring for children with developmental disabilities and some related factors
• Stress among nurses and associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2022
• Drinking water quality and associated factors at water supply stations in Quang Ngai Province in 2022
• Association between retinol intake and risk of gastric cancer: a case-control study in a Korean population
• Compliance with National guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis use in surgery: A case study in Thu Duc City Hospital, South of Vietnam
• Economic, Social, and Mental Health Difficulties Among High School Students in Hanoi During the COVID-19 Lockdown Period