Alcohol consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer at low levels of micronutrient intake.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of our study was to assess the relationship between simultaneous exposure to alcohol and consumption of micronutrients that may have protective properties against colorectal cancer.


METHODS
This hospital-based case-control study of colorectal cancer was carried out between January 1998 and November 1999 in Cracow, Poland. A total of 180 cases of colorectal cancer confirmed by histopathology were recruited from the University Hospital in Cracow. An equal number of controls, individually matched by gender and age (+/- 5 years) were chosen from among patients from the same hospital with no history of cancer. An interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire covering 148 food items, including the quantity consumed, was used to assess the typical dietary pattern.


RESULTS
When the analysis was carried out on quartile intake data, a consistent inverse association was confirmed between the intake of retinol, thiamine or antioxidant micronutrients (carotene, vitamin C and E) and the occurrence of colorectal cancer. Alcohol intake appeared to be an important risk factor for this cancer site, and the risk increased with the amount of pure alcohol intake. The group with deficient intake of retinol, carotene, and vitamins C and E, but with higher consumption of alcohol, incur a noticeably high risk of colorectal cancer (OR=6.79; 95%CI: 2.08-22.18).


CONCLUSIONS
The data support the hypothesis that higher consumption of alcohol, when combined with low micronutrient intake, may considerably increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
Jedrychowski
Wiesław
W
Epidemiology and Proventive Medicine, Coll. Med. Jagellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
Steindorf
Karen
K
Popiela
Tadeusz
T
Wahrendorf
Jürgen
J
Tobiasz-Adamczyk
Beata
B
Kulig
Jan
J
Penar
Agnieszka
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013831:Thiamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D018977:Micronutrients; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D013831:Thiamine