Cruciferous vegetables consumption and the risk of ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies

Diagn Pathol. 2014 Jan 20:9:7. doi: 10.1186/1746-1596-9-7.

Abstract

Background: To quantify the effect of cruciferous vegetable consumption on the incidence of ovarian cancer by meta-analyzing the existing observational studies and provides quantitative and high-level evidence.

Methods: A detailed literature search of Medline and EMBASE for all relevant papers published. A meta-analysis was conducted for the association between cruciferous vegetable consumption and risk of ovarian cancer.

Results: A total of 4,306 cases in 375,562 controls in 11 independent studies were identified in this current meta-analysis. The result of this current meta-analysis, including 6 case-control and 5 cohort studies, indicated that cruciferous vegetable intake was associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. Cruciferous vegetable consumption was associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer in case-control studies (RR=0.84; 95% CI, 0.75-0.94) but not in cohort studies (RR=1.00; 95% CI, 0.85-1.11).

Conclusions: The results from this meta-analysis of observational studies demonstrate that cruciferous vegetable consumption is a prospective factor of the ovarian cancer. However, more in-depth studies are warranted to report more detailed results, including other specific vegetables within the cruciferous vegetable family.

Virtual slides: The virtual slide (s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1116708293115581.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Diet*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Vegetables*