Diet and risk of colorectal cancer in a cohort of Finnish men.
OBJECTIVE
Based on previous epidemiological studies, high fat and meat consumption may increase and fiber, calcium, and vegetable consumption may decrease the risk of colorectal cancer. We sought to address these hypotheses in a male Finnish cohort.


METHODS
We analyzed data from the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study (ATBC Study) where 27, 111 male smokers completed a validated dietary questionnaire at baseline. After an average of 8 years of follow-up, we documented 185 cases of colorectal cancer. The analyses were carried out using the Cox proportional hazards model.


RESULTS
The relative risk (RR) for men in the highest quartile of calcium intake compared with men in the lowest quartile was 0.6 (95% CI 0.4-0.9, p for trend 0.04). Likewise, the intake of milk protein and the consumption of milk products was inversely associated with risk of colorectal cancer. However, intake of dietary fiber was not associated with risk, nor was fat intake. Consumption of meat or different types of meat, and fried meat, fruits or vegetables were not associated with risk.


CONCLUSIONS
In this cohort of men consuming a diet high in fat, meat, and fiber and low in vegetables, high calcium intake was associated with lowered risk of colorectal cancer.
Pietinen
P
P
Department of Nutrition, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
Malila
N
N
Virtanen
M
M
Hartman
T J
TJ
Tangrea
J A
JA
Albanes
D
D
Virtamo
J
J
D000368:Aged; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber