Gastric Cancer among the Japanese in Hawaii

The incidence rate of gastric cancer among men of Japanese ancestry living in Hawaii is about one‐third as high as that of their counterparts living in Japan. Because of this difference, a prospective study was conducted to identify factors related to the development of gastric cancer in Hawaii. Eight thousand and six (8,006) men born from 1900‐1919 were examined from 1965 to 1968 and followed for over 25 years. During this time, 250 incident cases of gastric cancer were identified. The study has found the following: 1) prior infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria increased the risk for stomach cancer; 2) cigarette smoking was positively associated with gastric cancer with age at which smoking started being an important risk factor; 3) after taking cigarette smoking into account, alcohol intake was not related to stomach cancer risk; 4) a low pepsinogen I level identified subjects at increased risk for the intestinal histologic type of gastric cancer; 5) a low serum ferritin level was a marker for increased risk of stomach cancer; 6) there was a weak indication that the intake of vegetables and fruits was inversely related to gastric cancer; 7) there was no association of stomach cancer with levels of serum cholesterol, serum uric acid, serum micronutrients (retinol, β‐carotene or α‐tocopherol) or blood hematocrit; 8) there was also no association of gastric cancer with body mass index or physical activity.