Meat consumption and prostate cancer incidence : global and regional associations

Objective: Correlation between meat consumption and risk of prostate cancer (PCA) has been controversial in previous studies. This paper describes correlations of PCA to consumption of meat, meat protein and meat fat separately at population level. Methods: Country-specific PCA incidence rate and nutritional data on availability of major food groups (meat, fats, fruits, starch crops and fibres) and macro-nutrients (meat protein, animal excluding meat protein, plant protein, meat fat, animal excluding meat fat, plant oil and carbohydrates) were obtained. These data were then matched with country-specific per capita GDP, obesity prevalence rate (Obesity), urbanization, life expectancy (e70) and Biological State Index (Ibs). Countries were also grouped for regional correlation study. SPSS was used for log-transformed data analysis. Results: Spearman analysis reveals that meat (r = 0.610, p < 0.001), meat protein (r = 0.597, p < 0.001) and meat fat (r = 0.384, p < 0.001) are significantly correlated to PCA incidence respectively. Only the correlations of meat (r = 0.329, p < 0.001) and meat protein (r = 0.313, p < 0.001) to PCA rate remain significant in partial correlation analysis when controlled for GDP, Obesity, urbanization, life expectancy and Ibs. When these potential confounders plus all other major food groups and macro-nutrients respectively are kept statistically constant, correlations of meat (r = 0.305, p < 0.001) and meat protein (r = 0.378, p < 0.001) to PCA rate are still significant. Meat (R2 = 0.322) and meat protein (R2 = 0.317) are the most significant predictors among food groups and macronutrients respectively in Stepwise linear regression analysis. Conclusions: These findings provide further evidence that consumption of meat, particularly meat protein is associated with increased risk of prostate cancer.