Vegetable, Fruit Consumption and Risk of Biliary Cancer: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background and objective

This meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between vegetable and fruit (VF) consumption and biliary cancer risk.

Method

Relevant studies were identified by a search of MEDLINE and Embase databases. The summary relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the highest vs. lowest consumption and dose-response analyses were assessed.

Results

Fourteen studies were eligible. The summary RRs associated with the risk of biliary cancer for the highest vs. lowest were 0.48 (n = 10; 95% CI: 0.22-0.74; Q = 68.27, P_{heterogeneity} < 0.001, I² = 86.8%) for vegetable consumption and 0.47 (n = 13; 95% CI: 0.32-0.61; Q = 32.68, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.001, I² = 63.3%) for fruit consumption. Dose-response associations were analyzed for every 100 gram/day increment: for vegetable (n = 8; RR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.20–0.47; P_{non-linearity} = 0.35) and for fruit (n = 8; RR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.66–1.18; P_{non-linearity} = 0.20). There was no publication bias among studies (P_Begg = 0.53, P_Egger = 0.84 for vegetable; P_Begg = 0.95, P_Egger = 0.64 for fruit).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis indicated that VF consumption may significantly reduce the risk of biliary cancer. Further well-designed prospective studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author Contribution Statement

Jiaping Huai contributed to data collection and manuscript drafting; Xiaohua Ye contributed to study design and data analysis.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (LQ19H030003) and Key Project of Jinhua Science and Technology Bureau (2018A32022).