Carcinogenesis. 2013 Jan;34(1):170-5.
Phytanic acid and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Ollberding NJ, Aschebrook-Kilfoy B, Caces DB, Wright ME, Weisenburger DD, Smith SM, Chiu BC.
Source
Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
nollberding@uchicago.edu
Abstract
Greater consumption of red meat, processed meat and dairy products has been
associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in several
previous reports. Phytanic acid, a saturated fatty acid obtained primarily
through the consumption of ruminant meat and dairy products, may offer a
potential underlying mechanism for these associations. In a population-based
case-control study of 336 cases and 460 controls conducted in Nebraska during
1999-2002, we examined whether phytanic acid-containing foods or total phytanic
acid intake, estimated from a food frequency questionnaire and the published
phytanic acid values of 151 food items, were associated with increased NHL risk.
Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and
95% confidence intervals for overall NHL and the common NHL histologic subtypes.
In multivariable models, higher intakes of density-adjusted beef [OR(T3 vs. T1)
= 1.5 (1.1-2.2); P(trend) = 0.02], total dairy products [OR = 1.5 (1.1-2.2);
P(trend) = 0.02) and milk [OR = 1.6 (1.1-2.3); P(trend) = 0.01] were associated
with an increased risk of NHL. Intake of total phytanic acid was positively
associated with NHL risk [OR = 1.5 (1.0-2.1); P(trend) = 0.04]. In analyses
stratified by NHL subtype, greater consumption of beef was associated with an
increased risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and greater consumption of milk
was associated with an increased risk of follicular lymphoma (FL). Total
phytanic acid intake was associated with an increased risk of FL and small
lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Our results provide support
that total phytanic acid and phytanic acid-containing foods may increase NHL
risk.
PMID: 23042099 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC3534193