Hypertriglyceridemia is positively correlated with the development of colorectal tubular adenoma in Japanese men.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the real association between serum lipid levels and colonic polyp formation.


METHODS
We performed a large scale retrospective study to analyze the correlation between the incidence of colorectal adenoma or carcinoma and the fasting serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in patients who underwent total colonoscopy for screening for colon cancer.


RESULTS
Both levels were significantly elevated in patients with adenomas as compared with patients without any neoplastic lesion (TC 207.6+/-29.5 vs 199.5+/-34.3, n=4883, P<0.001; TG 135.0+/-82.2 vs 108.7+/-71.5, n=4874, P<0.001). The difference was significant in patients with tubular adenoma but not in those with villous or serrated adenoma. Multiple logistic regression analysis including age and sex revealed that TG was an independent correlation factor in male (P<0.01), but not in female patients. The level of TG in patients with invasive carcinoma did not show a significant elevation from that in patients with adenoma. These findings suggest that hypertriglyceridemia is an independent risk factor for colonic adenoma in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Although a high level of serum triglyceride does not appear to be mechanically involved in the development of carcinoma, reduction of serum TG and intensive surveillance with total colonoscopy may have benefit in men with hypertriglyceridemia.
Nakameguro Gastrointestinal Clinic, Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
Masafumi
M
Tabuchi
Joji
J
Kitayama
Hirokazu
H
Nagawa
D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol