Diet and genital warts: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Clinical observations support a substantial role for impaired immunity in the development of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Intake of vitamins, especially vitamins A and C, and alcohol consumption have been reported to influence immune response.

GOAL OF THE STUDY: To examine the relationship between nutritional risk factors, including alcohol consumption, and the risk of genital warts.

STUDY

DESIGN

A case-control study was conducted among enrollees at four clinics of Group Health Cooperative in western Washington state. A total of 188 cases diagnosed with condyloma from April 1, 1987 to September 30, 1991 and 245 controls completed a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS

After adjustment for socioeconomic indicators, total energy intake, smoking and sexual behavior, a weekly consumption of two to four alcoholic drinks was associated with an almost doubled risk of genital warts (OR = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-3.6). Consuming five or more alcoholic drinks per week was even more related to the risk of genital warts (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.2-5.1). The risks tended to increase with the number of alcoholic drinks (P = 0.006). Vitamin A and C intakes as measured by a food frequency questionnaire did not alter the risk of condyloma.

CONCLUSION

Moderately high consumption of alcohol is associated with increased risk of condyloma. Further biological and epidemiological studies are needed to explain this association.