Plant sterol intakes and colorectal cancer risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer.
BACKGROUND
Plant sterols in vegetable foods might prevent colorectal cancer.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to study plant sterol intakes in relation to colorectal cancer risk in an epidemiologic study.


METHODS
The study was performed within the framework of the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer in 120852 subjects who completed a baseline questionnaire in 1986. After 6.3 y of follow-up, 620 colon and 344 rectal cancer cases were detected. A case-cohort approach was used to calculate confounder-adjusted rate ratios (RRs) and their 95% CIs for quintiles of plant sterol intake.


RESULTS
The total mean (+/-SD) intake of campesterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, campestanol, and beta-sitostanol was 285 +/- 97 mg/d. Major contributors to plant sterol intake were bread (38%), vegetable fats (26%), and fruit and vegetables (21%). For men, there was no clear association between intake of any of the plant sterols and colon cancer risk when age, smoking, alcohol use, family history of colorectal cancer, education level, and cholecystectomy were controlled for. Adjustment for energy did not alter the result. For rectal cancer, adjustment for energy resulted in positive associations between risk and campesterol and stigmasterol intakes. For women, there was no clear association between intake of any of the plant sterols and colorectal cancer risk.


CONCLUSIONS
A high dietary intake of plant sterols was not associated with a lower risk of colon and rectal cancers in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer.
Normén
A L
AL
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
Brants
H A
HA
Voorrips
L E
LE
Andersson
H A
HA
van den Brandt
P A
PA
Goldbohm
R A
RA
D000368:Aged; D001939:Bread / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013265:Stigmasterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C021273:campesterol; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D013265:Stigmasterol; C021255:stigmastanol