Lee Swanson Research Update

Zinc Deficiency Linked To Risk Of Esophageal Cancer

May 2005

zinc

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have found that zinc deficiency in humans is associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, an often-fatal form of esophageal cancer.

Esophageal tissue samples were obtained from a population in Linzhou, China, that was followed from 1985 through 2001, with 60 subjects who developed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma during the 16-year follow-up and 72 subjects who did not develop the disease. People in this region are at high risk for squamous esophageal cancer and tend to consume little meat and a lot of whole grain, and therefore are more likely to be zinc deficient. An earlier publication estimated that residents of this region get only 62% to 72% of the U.S. dietary recommendations for zinc.

The average tissue zinc concentration was significantly lower in subjects who developed esophageal cancer than in control subjects. When the researchers ranked the study participants by quartiles based on zinc concentration, they found that those in the highest quartile had a five-fold lower risk of developing esophageal cancer than those in the lowest quartile.

The researchers said the findings established an initial connection between zinc and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in humans, although further research is needed.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute 97(4):301-306, 2005

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