Relationship between Dietary Factors and Anthropometric and Gastrointestinal Tract Neoplasms: Investigations Done in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer features itself as an important public health issue both in developed and developing countries. Among cancers which affect the gastrointestinal tract, the most common are: colorectal, stomach, oral cavity and esophagus. Inadequate eating habits, obesity, smoking and sedentarism are identified as important risk factors. Objective: The purpose of this study was to trace the profile of population-based studies performed in Brazil which have investigated the relationship between gastrointestinal neoplasms and nutritional factors, such as anthropometry and food intake. Method: Systematic literature review made through bibliographical searches on computerized data banks and in articles which have investigated the relationship between gastrointestinal neoplasms and nutritional factors in Brazil. Results: 15 articles were selected, seven of which were studies about oral cancer, four about stomach cancer, two about esophagus cancer and two about colorectal cancer. Most part was a cross-sectional study followed by case-control and ecological. Among the studies, 14 evaluated neoplasms as to dietary factors and explored alcoholic beverage consumption. Anthropometric factors were investigated by one study only. The concentration of studies in big urban centers, the poor studies production and the small production of epidemiological designs with analytical power to establish possible nutritional risk factors to the studied neoplasms could be noticed. Conclusions: It is necessary to place the importance of more investigation of this relationship in Brazil, so that more directed actions be established in order to change the gastrointestinal cancer epidemiologic situation in the country.