title: Flavonoids and colorectal cancer in Italy.
abstract: Because of their several biological activities, flavonoids may have an important role in explaining the protective effects of vegetables, fruit, and, possibly, tea against cancer. The potential relation between flavonoids and colorectal cancer risk was investigated using data from a multicentric Italian case-control study, including 1,953 cases of colorectal cancers (1,225 colon cancers and 728 rectal cancers) and 4,154 hospital controls admitted for acute nonneoplastic diseases. We have applied recently published data on the composition of foods and beverages, in terms of six principal classes of flavonoids, on dietary information collected through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated by multiple logistic regression models, including terms for sex, age, study center, family history of colorectal cancer, education, alcohol consumption, body mass index, physical activity, and energy intake. A reduced risk of colorectal cancer was found for increasing intake of isoflavones (OR, 0.76, for the highest versus the lowest quintile, P(trend) = 0.001), anthocyanidins (OR, 0.67, P(trend) < 0.001), flavones (OR, 0.78, P(trend) = 0.004), and flavonols (OR, 0.64, P(trend) < 0.001). No significant association was found for flavan-3-ols (OR, 0.98), flavanones (OR, 0.96), and total flavonoids (OR, 0.97). The estimates did not substantially differ for colon and rectal cancers, as well as in strata of sex, age, and body mass index. The findings of this large study provide support for an inverse association of selected classes of flavonoids with colorectal cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Eritrea 62, 20157 Milan, Italy. mrossi@marionegri.it
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bosetti
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parpinel
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gnagnarella
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Luigino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dal Maso
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacosa
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids