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Associations of whole-blood fatty acids and dietary intakes with prostate cancer in Jamaica

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the association of whole-blood fatty acids and reported intakes of fats with risk of prostate cancer (PCa).

Design

Case–control study of 209 men 40–80 years old with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed prostate cancer and 226 cancer-free men attending the same urology clinics. Whole-blood fatty acid composition (mol%) was measured by gas chromatography and diet assessed by food frequency questionnaire.

Results

High whole-blood oleic acid composition (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: OR, 0.37; CI, 0.14–0.0.98) and moderate palmitic acid proportions (tertile 2: OR, 0.29; CI, 0.12–0.70) (tertile 3: OR, 0.53; CI, 0.19–1.54) were inversely related to risk of PCa, whereas men with high linolenic acid proportions were at increased likelihood of PCa (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: OR, 2.06; 1.29–3.27). Blood myristic, stearic and palmitoleic acids were not associated with PCa. Higher intakes of dietary MUFA were inversely related to prostate cancer (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: OR, 0.39; CI 0.16–0.92). The principal source of dietary MUFA was avocado intake. Dietary intakes of other fats were not associated with PCa.

Conclusions

Whole-blood and dietary MUFA reduced the risk of prostate cancer. The association may be related to avocado intakes. High blood linolenic acid was directly related to prostate cancer. These associations warrant further investigation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Health Fund and the Planning Institute of Jamaica and University of the West Indies. The authors wish to thank the research nurses—Barbara Panton, Elsa Brown, Nicola Meeks-Aitken, Donnahae Rhoden-Salmon—and study participants for their support in the investigation.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors had a conflict of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica

    Maria D. Jackson & Tomlin J. Paul

  2. Tropical Medicine Research Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica

    Susan P. Walker & Candace M. Simpson-Smith

  3. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica

    Carole M. Lindsay, Garret Smith & Norma McFarlane-Anderson

  4. Department of Pathology, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica

    Franklyn I. Bennett & Kathleen C. M. Coard

  5. Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia, and Intensive Care, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica

    William D. Aiken & Trevor Tulloch

  6. Kingston Public Hospital, Kingston, Jamaica

    Robert L. Wan

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  1. Maria D. Jackson
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Correspondence to Maria D. Jackson.

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Jackson, M.D., Walker, S.P., Simpson-Smith, C.M. et al. Associations of whole-blood fatty acids and dietary intakes with prostate cancer in Jamaica. Cancer Causes Control 23, 23–33 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9850-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9850-4

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