Fat and calories in the epidemiology of colon cancer in western New York.
In this article, we contrast three models of macronutrients in the epidemiology of colon cancer. We then evaluate a dataset collected in Buffalo showing that the macronutrient model we use to guide our data analysis has a decisive bearing on the answers we obtain. We attempt to demonstrate that the method of statistical analysis we employ depends on the biologic-behavioral model that we assume and that, if we assume the wrong model, we may perform the wrong analysis and generate an answer that is wrong. We focus on dietary fat, because the intake of fat has received so much attention in the nutritional epidemiology of cancer. In addition, the intake of fat brings the issue of collinearity between a macronutrient and total caloric intake into focus and helps accentuate the contours of our debate.
Marshall
J R
JR
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 14214.
Zielezny
M A
MA
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats