Journal article
Nitrate Intake and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Disease
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.), Vol.21(3), pp.389-395
05/01/2010
DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181d6201d
PMCID: PMC2879161
PMID: 20335813
Abstract
Background: Nitrate is a contaminant of drinking water in agricultural areas and is found at high levels in some vegetables. Nitrate competes with uptake of iodide by the thyroid, thus potentially affecting thyroid function.
Methods: We investigated the association of nitrate intake from public water supplies and diet with the risk of thyroid cancer and self-reported hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in a cohort of 21,977 older women in Iowa who were enrolled in 1986 and who had used the same water supply for >10 years. We estimated nitrate ingestion from drinking water using a public database of nitrate measurements (1955-1988). Dietary nitrate intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire and levels from the published literature. Cancer incidence was determined through 2004.
Results: We found an increased risk of thyroid cancer with higher average nitrate levels in public water supplies and with longer consumption of water exceeding 5 mg/L nitrate-N (for >= 5 years at >5 mg/L, relative risk [RR] = 2.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-6.2]). We observed no association with prevalence of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Increasing intake of dietary nitrate was associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer (highest vs. lowest quartile, RR = 2.9 [1.0-8.1]; P for trend = 0.046) and with the prevalence of hypothyroidism (odds ratio = 1.2 [95% CI = 1.1-1.4]), but not hyperthyroidism.
Conclusions: Nitrate may play a role in the etiology of thyroid cancer and warrants further study.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Nitrate Intake and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Disease
- Creators
- Mary H. Ward - National Institutes of HealthBriseis A. Kilfoy - National Institutes of HealthPeter J. Weyer - University of IowaKristin E. Anderson - University of MinnesotaAaron R. Folsom - University of MinnesotaJames R. Cerhan - Mayo Clinic
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.), Vol.21(3), pp.389-395
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- DOI
- 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181d6201d
- PMID
- 20335813
- PMCID
- PMC2879161
- ISSN
- 1044-3983
- eISSN
- 1531-5487
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- NIH/National Cancer Institute; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) ZIACP010125 / NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/01/2010
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984368092002771
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