안병진1,전세일2

동국대학교 의과학연구센터1, 포천중문의대 대체의학대학원2

Background: Experimental studies have suggested that green tea and polyphenol have some anticancer activities and many epidemiologic studies have examined the possible association between green tea consumption and stomach cancer risk. This meta-analysis overviewed previous epidemiologic studies and presented the combined results.

Methods: Ten prospective studies and seven case-control studies were reviewed. Meta-analysis was performed on the ten prospective studies. This meta-analysis indicated the combined RR (rate ratio or relative risk) for highest versus lowest green tea consumption by using both the fixed effect model and the random effect model, and then, examined heterogeneity and publication bias. To estimate the combined RR, the general variance based method was used. To test publication bias, a funnel plot was drawn and the Egger's regression intercept test was performed.

Results: The combined results did not show an association between green tea consumption and stomach cancer risk(combined RR: 1.04, P value=0.418). There were no rate differences in gender and daily consumption amount. Estimates from both fixed and random effect model were nearly identical and BSV (between study variation) was negligible. This meta-analysis did not show heterogeneity (Q=14.313, P value=0.427) nor publication bias.

Conclusions: In contrast with some case-control studies, this study found no relation between green tea consumption and stomach cancer risk. Better designed cohort and meta-analysis studies are needed to support this meta-analysis study.


(Korean J Health Promot Dis Prev 2009;9(3):230-240)


Key words: green tea, stomach cancer, risk, meta-analysis