Gastro Intestinal Cancer In Indigenous Population Of Arunachal Pradesh - A Role Of Lifestyle Factors And Dietary Habits

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers represent a significant health burden worldwide, with emerging evidence highlighting ethnic, dietary, and environmental influences. In Arunachal Pradesh, India, a region populated by indigenous tribes with cultural and genetic ties to East and Southeast Asia. This study aimed to assess sociodemographic, dietary, and lifestyle factors associated with GI cancers.

Material and Methods: This study comprises 116 histopathologically confirmed GI cancer patients and 116 age and gender matched controls without malignancy. Data were collected using structured questionnaires addressing demographic variables, dietary patterns, food frequency, and lifestyle behaviors. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests, odds ratios, and t-tests to determine significant associations.

Results: Male gender (OR=1.75, p=0.035), older age groups (p=0.00004), low education (p=0.0001), and being married (OR=28.29, p=0.0001) were significantly associated with higher cancer risk. Frequent consumption of roasted food (OR=4.75, p=0.01) and daily intake of salted/fermented foods (p=0.0001) showed strong associations with GI cancers. No significant association was found with residence or occupation.

Conclusion: This study emphasizing the role of traditional diets rich in salted, fermented, and roasted foods. The findings align with patterns reported in East and Southeast Asian populations, suggesting a possible shared etiological pathway influenced by cultural and genetic factors. Public health interventions focusing on dietary modification and cancer awareness are urgently needed to mitigate the growing cancer burden in this underserved region.