Refined and whole grain cereals and the risk of oral, oesophageal and laryngeal cancer.

Eating more whole grains may help guard against the development of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus.

​This study was carried out to confirm the protective effect of highly whole grain diets against oral, laryngeal, pharyngeal, and esophageal cancer. Researchers collated and analyzed data on the cereal intake and the esophageal, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and oral cancer odds ratios of more than 600 subjects recruited from University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Researchers observed a protective association between high dietary intake of whole grains and the occurrence of oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and laryngeal cancer. In contrast, generous consumption of refined grains was found to elevate the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, and larynx. The results of this study show that increase in the frequency of consumption of whole grains may put an individual in a better position to avoid oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and laryngeal cancer.