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Is dietary fat associated with the risk of colorectal cancer? A meta-analysis of 13 prospective cohort studies

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Abstract

Background

The results of animal studies suggest there is a significant role for dietary fat in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, inconsistent results have been reported by epidemiological studies.

Aim of study

To evaluate the association between total dietary fat and risk of colorectal cancer development using a meta-analysis based on prospective cohort studies.

Methods

Published literature was retrieved from Medline, Embase and CNKI (China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database) databases updated to 1st May, 2009. Overall, thirteen prospective cohort studies with 3,635 cases and 459,910 participants were included.

Results

The combined relative risk (RR) [95% confidence interval (95%CI)] for the risk of CRC was 0.99 (0.89,1.09) when the highest level of total dietary fat was versus (vs.) the lowest level. Stratified analyses according to gender, ethnicity, country and age showed that the highest level of total dietary fat did not increase the risk of CRC [RR (95%CI): 0.89 (0.77,1.03) for males; 1.09 (0.94,1.26) for females; 1.08 (0.94,1.25) for Caucasians; 0.90 (0.77,1.04) for Asians; 1.13 (0.94,1.36) for Americans; 0.92 (0.81,1.04) for individuals older than 40]. Besides those, the highest level of total fat diet also did not increase the risk of neither colon cancer [RR (95%CI): 0.96 (0.82,1.13)] nor rectal cancer [RR (95%CI):1.07 (0.63,1.82)]. Furthermore, neither animal fat nor plant fat were associated with the risk of CRC [RR (95%CI): 1.05 (0.91–1.22) for animal fat and 0.96 (0.82–1.11) for plant fat].

Conclusions

This meta-analysis suggests that dietary fat may not be associated with the increased risk of CRC. More well-designed studies with larger population performed among Asians are needed to further evaluate the associations. In addition, probable bias caused by measurement error should be noticed in this meta-analysis, and measurement error needs to be adjusted in the future studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nan Chang University, 330006, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China

    Liu Liu

  2. Gastrointestinal Surgery Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China

    Wen Zhuang, Shuo-Meng Xiao, Xiao-Ting Wu & Yong Zhou

  3. Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, 533000, Baise City, Guangxi Province, China

    Ruo-Qi Wang

  4. Division of Surgery & Oncology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Daulby Street, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK

    Rajarshi Mukherjee

  5. Department of Pediatrics, The 2ed West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China

    Zhong Chen

  6. Department of Combination of TCM with Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China

    Hai-Yan Zhang

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  1. Liu Liu
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Liu, L., Zhuang, W., Wang, RQ. et al. Is dietary fat associated with the risk of colorectal cancer? A meta-analysis of 13 prospective cohort studies. Eur J Nutr 50, 173–184 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-010-0128-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-010-0128-5

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