Food group intake and the risk of oral epithelial dysplasia in a United States population

Objectives: Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) is a histopathologic diagnosis associated with an increased risk of oral cancer. The paper explores the relationship between OED risk and food group intake. Methods: In this case-control study, incident cases of OED were identified through two oral pathology laboratories. Controls, pair-matched 1:1 to cases on age (± 5 years), gender, appointment date (± 1 year), and surgeon, were identified through the office in which the respective case was biopsied. Exposure data were obtained via a telephone interview and mailed food-frequency questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratio point estimates. Results: Based upon 87 matched pairs - and after controlling for smoking, drinking, and other potential covariates-there was an apparent inverse relationship between OED risk and the consumption of fruits and vegetables, with the intake of these foods being associated with a strong attenuating effect among smokers. OED risk decreased with increased poultry consumption, but increased modestly with bread/cereal and dairy food intake. Conclusions: This investigation provides evidence that some aspects of diet may be associated with the risk of OED. It also suggests that in oral carcinogenesis the role of diet is not simply one of a late effect.