Oral cancer is a major cause of cancer both in the United States and worldwide with 29,000 and 400,000 new cases respectively each year. This type of cancer has a high mortality rate. Therefore, prevention is the best strategy at fighting this disease.
Researchers analyzed data from 16 studies on mouth cancer and found that a higher intake of fruits and vegetables is protective against developing mouth cancer. Both fruit and vegetable intake were examined independently and were both found to be significantly related to a lower cancer risk.
Each additional serving of fruit showed a 49% decreased risk of developing mouth cancer compared to people eating an average fruit intake. Similarly, each additional serving of vegetables showed a 50% reduction in mouth cancer. These reductions in risk were found after adjusting for other risk factors such as smoking or alcohol intake.
Citrus fruits were found to be most closely related to lower risk of cancer; it was found that an additional serving (above the average intake) of citrus fruit daily resulted in a 62% decrease in oral cancer risk. Other lifestyles linked to higher risk of oral cancer include: smoking, regular alcohol intake, and in countries were common, betel quid chewing.