(LB02-06-24) Dietary and Lifestyle Habits on the Development of Head and Neck Cancers

Objectives: Most head and neck cancer studies focus on maintaining nutrition status, improving quality of life or prognosis, and/or alleviating side effects associated with cancer treatments. Very few studies address diet and lifestyle habits/factors related to those with head and neck cancers.

Objective: To determine the demographic characteristics, dietary, and lifestyle habits of participants of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) who have been diagnosed with head and neck cancers and compare their demographic and lifestyle habits/factors with healthy individuals.

Methods: These demographic and lifestyle habits/factors (i.e. anthropometrics, sun exposure, smoking, alcohol intake, micro/macronutrient intake, supplements, etc.) were assessed utilizing various questionnaires: Canadian Dietary History Questionnaire, Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire, Update Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire, Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey, Past Year Total Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation questionnaire. Data was analyzed with STATA 18 (StataCorp LLC) using two sample t-tests and Pearson chi-squared tests.

Results: Individuals with head and neck cancers (n=53) reported smoking more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime (p < 0.001), smoked at least one cigarette a day for 30 days in a row (p=0.04), consumed higher amounts of alcohol daily (p < 0.001), consumed lower intakes of carbohydrates (p < 0.03) and protein (p < 0.01), and a higher supplement intake of vitamin B6 (p=0.05) and vitamin C (p=0.04) compared to healthy individuals (n=530).

Conclusions: The results corroborate the relationship of alcohol and smoking for head and neck cancers and indicate a potential positive connection with vitamins C and B6 for head and neck cancers.

Funding Sources: None