Nutrient intakes in relation to cancer mortality in Taiwan

To provide more information on the international variations of nutrient intake in relation to cancer mortality rates, we investigated the association between nutrient intake and common cancer mortality rates in Taiwan by using the ecological design. Cancer mortality rates in Taiwan from 1997-2000 were obtained from the Office of Statistics, Department of Health. The data of nutrient intake were obtained from the third national survey (Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan; NAHSIT) (1993-1996). Data was drawn from 7 geographical districts. Stomach, lung, prostate, liver, and colorectal cancer mortality rates in men were attributed to regional variations in the consumption of either lipid, calcium, thiamin, and/or vitamin E; breast and liver cancer mortality rates in women were related to the regional variations in consumption of either lipid, carbohydrate, calcium, or iron. Not all cancer (i.e., esophageal cancer in men and women; stomach, lung, and colorectal cancer in women) mortality rates could be explained by the regional variations in the consumption of nutrients. Time-lag and potential confounders might be considered in the ecological study.