Dietary fat and fatty acids and risk of colorectal cancer in women.
The authors examined the association of intakes of different types of fat and fatty acids with risk of colorectal cancer using data from the Women's Health Study, a randomized trial of low-dose aspirin and vitamin E carried out among 39,876 healthy US women aged >/=45 years. Among the 37,547 women eligible for the present study, 202 developed colorectal cancer during an average follow-up period of 8.7 years (1993-2003). Intakes of dietary fat and its food sources were assessed at baseline by food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate relative risks and 95% confidence intervals. Total fat intake was not related to colorectal cancer risk, nor were intakes of the different types of fat and major fatty acids. However, the authors observed a positive association between intake of fried foods away from home and colorectal cancer risk (highest quintile vs. lowest: relative risk = 1.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.09, 3.16; p for trend = 0.01). These prospective cohort data provide little support for an association between dietary fat and colorectal cancer risk. However, intake of fried foods and/or other factors related to their intake may be associated with colorectal cancer development. This finding warrants further examination.
Lin
Jennifer
J
Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. jhlin@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Zhang
Shumin M
SM
Cook
Nancy R
NR
Lee
I-Min
IM
Buring
Julie E
JE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids