Dietary inflammatory potential and oral cancer risk: a meta-analysis of observational studies

Background Chronic inflammation is a recognized hallmark of cancer. The association between the inflammatory potential of diet and the risk of oral cancer remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify this association. Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science was performed to identify observational studies investigating the relationship between dietary inflammatory potential scores and oral cancer risk. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Results Seven observational studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that individuals in the highest category of dietary inflammatory potential had a significantly higher risk of oral cancer compared to those in the lowest category (Pooled OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.41–2.62). The continuous analysis indicated that each 1-unit increment in the dietary inflammatory potential score was associated with a 19% increase in oral cancer risk. Sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out approach confirmed the robustness of the pooled estimates. Conclusion Our pooled analysis supports an association between dietary inflammatory potential and oral cancer risk. These findings suggest that dietary interventions aimed at reducing inflammation may be a viable strategy for oral cancer prevention.