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Drinking plenty of fluids may decrease bladder cancer risk in men

Issue: November 25, 2011

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AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research

Results from a re-examination of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study demonstrate that high fluid intake may protect men against bladder cancer. Data were presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research in Boston.

Conducted during a 22-year period, the prospective study began enrollment in 1986 and included 47,909 male participants aged 40 to 75 years at the time. Every 4 years, participants answered a questionnaire about fluid intake to determine the association with bladder cancer. During follow-up, 823 incident cases of bladder cancer were diagnosed.

According to results, fluid intake in excess of 2,531 mL per day was associated with a 24% reduction in the risk for bladder cancer. Study researcher Jiachen Zhou, MBBS, MPH, a doctoral candidate in epidemiology at Brown University, said fluids may flush out potential carcinogens before they can cause tissue damage leading to bladder cancer. However, the reason for the protective effects remains unknown.

These findings are in line with previous results reported 10 years ago using the same cohort. In the current re-examination, however, the association was not as strong. According to a press release, this may be explained by the presence of a stronger association among younger men. Additionally, as they aged, men consumed fewer liquids, particularly water.

When the analysis was based on the baseline diet, total fluid intake was inversely associated with bladder cancer (RR=0.76; 95% CI, 0.60-0.97), comparing the highest total daily intake quintile (>2,531 mL/day) with the lowest (<1,290 mL/day), the researchers wrote.

According to a press release, Zhou warned against generalizing these findings to the wider population, but he said physicians should feel comfortable recommending that patients drink sufficient fluids.

For more information:

• Zhou J. #B108. Presented at: 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; Oct. 22-25, 2011; Boston.

Disclosure: This study was supported by grants from the NIH.

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