Gastric Cancer
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2005; 11(21): 3175-3181
Published online Jun 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i21.3175
Kimchi and soybean pastes are risk factors of gastric cancer
Hong-Mei Nan, Jin-Woo Park, Young-Jin Song, Hyo-Yung Yun, Joo-Seung Park, Taisun Hyun, Sei-Jin Youn, Yong-Dae Kim, Jong-Won Kang, Heon Kim
Hong-Mei Nan, Yong-Dae Kim, Jong-Won Kang, Heon Kim, Department of Preventive Medicine and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
Jin-Woo Park, Young-Jin Song, Hyo-Yung Yun, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
Joo-Seung Park, Department of Surgery, Eulji University, School of Medicine, Daejon, Korea
Taisun Hyun, Department of Food and Nutrition, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
Sei-Jin Youn, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation, No. 2000-2-219-001-2
Correspondence to: Dr. Heon Kim, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, 12 Kaeshin-dong, Hungdok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea. kimheon@pm.cbu.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-43-261-2864 Fax: +82-43-274-2965
Received: November 3, 2004
Revised: November 4, 2004
Accepted: January 13, 2005
Published online: June 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: This case-control study investigated the effects of kimchi, soybean paste, fresh vegetables, nonfermented alliums, nonfermented seafood, nonfermented soybean foods, and the genetic polymorphisms of some metabolic enzymes on the risk of gastric cancer in Koreans.

METHODS: We studied 421 gastric cancer patients and 632 age- and sex-matched controls. Subjects completed a structured questionnaire regarding their food intake pattern. Polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) were investigated.

RESULTS: A decreased risk of gastric cancer was noted among people with high consumption of nonfermented alliums and nonfermented seafood. On the other hand, consumption of kimchi, and soybean pastes was associated with increased risk of gastric cancer. Individuals with the CYP1A1 Ile/Val or Val/Val genotype showed a significantly increased risk for gastric cancer. Increased intake of kimchi or soybean pastes was a significant risk factor for the CYP1A1 Ile/Ile, the CYP2E1 c1/c1, the GSTM1 non-null, the GSTT1 non-null, or the ALDH2 *1/*1 genotype. In addition, eating soybean pastes was associated with the increased risk of gastric cancer in individuals with the GSTM1 null type. Nonfermented alliums were significant in individuals with the CYP1A1 Ile/Ile, the CYP2E1 c1/c2 or c2/c2, the GSTT1 null, the GSTT1 non-null, or the ALDH2 *1/*2 or *2/*2 genotype, nonfermented seafood was those with the CYP1A1 Ile/Ile, the CYP2E1 c1/c1, the ALDH2 *1/*1 genotype or any type of GSTM1 or GSTT1. In homogeneity tests, the odds ratios of eating kimchi for gastric cancer according to the GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotype were not homogeneous.

CONCLUSION: Kimchi, soybean pastes, and the CYP1A1 Ile/Val or Val/Val are risk factors, and nonfermented seafood and alliums are protective factors against gastric cancer in Koreans. Salt or some chemicals contained in kimchi and soybean pastes, which are increased by fermentation, would play important roles in the carcinogenesis of stomach cancer. Polymorphisms of the CYP1A1, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and ALDH2 genes could modify the effects of some environmental factors on the risk of gastric cancer.

Keywords: Kimchi; Soybean pastes; Gastric cancer