Association between Smoking Status and Food and Nutrient Consumption in Japanese: a Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: In Japan, in comparison with the rest of the world the death rate of lung cancer is low although the smoking rate is relatively high. This is the so-called "Japanese smoking paradox". A healthy diet is proposed to attenuate the risk without quitting smoking. We here examined the relationships between smoking status (SS) and the consumption of food and nutrient in Japan. Materials and Methods: Totals of 5,587 men and 2,718 women were divided into three (non-smokers, smokers and heavy smokers) and two (non-smokers and smokers) groups, respectively, according to pack-year, which represents the amount of smoking over a long period. Food and nutrient consumption was estimated with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Using general linear models, food and nutrient consumption was estimated for each group in men and women, separately. Results: In men, SS was positively related to consumption of rice, 3 alcoholic beverages, carbohydrate, alcohol and other 8 foods/nutrients (p< 0.05 for all) and negatively to those of protein animal, fat, fatty acids, dietary fiber, isoflavones and 36 other foods/nutrients (p<0.05 for all). In women, SS was positively associated with intake of 13 foods/nutrients, while being negatively associated with those of rice, energy, dietary fiber, and 14 other foods/nutrients (p<0.05 for all). Conclusions: Our results support lower intake of vegetables and fruits rich in antioxidants, which are thought as preventive factors for many diseases, in smokers.

The correlation between PER3 rs2640908 polymorphism and colorectal Cancer in the Japanese population

“…This phenomenon is called the "Japanese smoking paradox" [38,39]. Probable explanations of this paradox include: lower levels of cancercausing ingredients in Japanese cigarettes, genetic factors that result in Japanese men being more resistant to the development of smoking-related cancers, lower alcohol consumption and lower fat intake by Japanese males, and higher efficiency of filters in Japanese cigarettes [40]. The healthy diet of the Japanese population, the good quality of food and nutrient consumption levels in Japan may also decrease the risk of cancer even among smokers [40].…”

“…Probable explanations of this paradox include: lower levels of cancercausing ingredients in Japanese cigarettes, genetic factors that result in Japanese men being more resistant to the development of smoking-related cancers, lower alcohol consumption and lower fat intake by Japanese males, and higher efficiency of filters in Japanese cigarettes [40]. The healthy diet of the Japanese population, the good quality of food and nutrient consumption levels in Japan may also decrease the risk of cancer even among smokers [40]. Despite our study's indication that there is no difference between the smoker and nonsmoker groups in terms of the association between PER3 polymorphism and colorectal cancer, this result should not be interpreted as indicating that tobacco is safer or less harmful for people than is generally believed, especially for Japanese [39].…”

Impact of Interactions Between Self-Reported Psychological Stress and Habitual Exercise on the Dietary Intake of Japanese Men and Women: a Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study

“…From July 2005 to March 2007, we recruited individuals who attended a health checkup at a local health center in Shizuoka, Japan (Mochizuki et al, 2011;Endoh et al, 2015a;Endoh et al, 2015b). An in-person explanation was provided and written informed consent for participation in the study was obtained from 12,066 subjects.…”

“…A general linear between SRPS levels and habitual exercise on the dietary intake of food and nutrients. The model was adjusted for the following confounding variables, as in our previous studies (Endoh et al, 2015a;Endoh et al, 2015b): age (years), BMI (kg/m 2 ), dietary energy (kcal/day), alcohol intake (g/day), sleeping time (hours/day), smoking status (never, past, or current smoker), and past or present history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus (yes or no). All reported p values were based on two-sided tests.…”

CIMMYT Series on Carbohydrates, Wheat, Grains, and Health: Carbohydrates, Grains, and Whole Grains and Disease Prevention. Part IV. Cancer Risk: Lung, Prostate, and Stomach

“…Among both men and women, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and most other countries worldwide. Smoking is the predominant risk factor for lung cancer, and risk increases markedly in the presence of high alcohol intake (9). Although they are less important factors in lung cancer risk, both diet and lifestyle appear to play roles.…”