Association between fish intake and glioma risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between the consumption of fresh and processed fish and glioma risk using a meta-analysis approach. METHODS: We selected and analyzed observational studies that discussed the relationships between fresh and processed fish intake on glioma risk from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the SinoMed and Wanfang databases from inception to 31 March 2020. Studies were selected according to pre-established eligibility criteria and data were extracted separately by two researchers. A meta-analysis was conducted based on a random-effects model to provide pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Eight studies considered the relationship between fish intake (seven fresh and seven processed fish) and glioma risk and were included in this meta-analysis. The OR effect size for fresh fish intake and glioma risk was 0.72 (95%CI 0.53–0.97) and the overall OR effect size for processed fish intake and glioma risk was 1.88 (95%CI 1.06–3.34). CONCLUSION: Dietary intake of fresh fish may reduce the risk of glioma, but consumption of processed fish may increase the risk of glioma. This study had some limitations, and further studies are therefore required to clarify the associations between fish intake and glioma risk.