The Association between Dietary Vitamin C Intake and the Risk of Esophageal Cancer: An Updated Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#adenocarcinoma #ascorbic-acid #diet #esophageal-neoplasms #humans

The Association between Dietary Vitamin C Intake and the Risk of Esophageal Cancer: An Updated Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

Jia et al., 2022 | Nutr Cancer | Meta Analysis

Citation

Jia Chenhao, Lv Xiaolong, ... Chen Huanwen. The Association between Dietary Vitamin C Intake and the Risk of Esophageal Cancer: An Updated Dose-Response Meta-Analysis. Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(10):3479-3491. doi:10.1080/01635581.2022.2088813

Abstract

Although some epidemiological studies have reported the associations between vitamin C and risk of esophageal cancer, these results are inconsistent. Therefore, we performed an updated meta-analysis to explore the associations between dietary vitamin C intake and risk of esophageal cancer. We used PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science to screen all published articles, which yielded 18 papers eligible for data extraction (involving 4,126 cases and 36,902 controls), and then pooled the odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects model. As we detected the associations in highest category and the lowest type of dietary vitamin C intake, we discovered that dietary vitamin C intake was negatively correlated to the risk of esophageal cancer. The analysis of subgroup showed a significant counter proportion between vitamin C and the risk of ESCC and EAC. Moreover, the dose-analysis indicated that if increasing dietary intake of vitamin C of 50 mg/day, esophageal cancer risk dropped down 10% (OR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.75-0.87). In summary, our study provides a comprehensive and updated epidemiological evidence to elucidate the relationships between dietary vitamin C and reduction of esophageal cancer risk. Nevertheless, we still need larger case-control and cohort studies to confirm these connections.

Key Findings

Nevertheless, we still need larger case-control and cohort studies to confirm these connections.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Ascorbic Acid
  • Diet
  • Esophageal Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Nutritional Status
  • Risk Factors
  • Vitamins

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Vertical: vitamin-c-cancer

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09