Nutrient dietary patterns and the risk of colorectal cancer: a case-control study from Italy.
OBJECTIVE
The role of diet on colorectal cancer has been considered in terms of single foods and nutrients, but less frequently in terms of dietary patterns.


METHODS
Data were derived from an Italian case-control study, including 1,225 subjects with cancer of the colon, 728 subjects with rectal cancer, and 4,154 hospital controls. We identified dietary patterns on a selected set of nutrients through principal component factor analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for both cancers were estimated using unconditional multiple logistic regression.


RESULTS
We identified 5 major dietary patterns. Direct associations were observed between the Starch-rich pattern and both cancer of the colon (OR = 1.68) and of the rectum (OR = 1.74). Inverse relationships were found between the Vitamins and fiber pattern and rectal cancer (OR = 0.61), between the Unsaturated fats (animal source) and the Unsaturated fats (vegetable source) and cancer of the colon (OR = 0.80 and OR = 0.79, respectively). No other significant association was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The Starch-rich pattern is potentially an unfavorable indicator of risk for both colon and rectal cancer, whereas the Vitamins and fiber pattern is associated with a reduced risk of rectal cancer and the Unsaturated fats patterns with a reduced risk of colon cancer.
Bravi
Francesca
F
Dipartimento di Epidemiologia, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy. francesca.bravi@marionegri.it
Edefonti
Valeria
V
Bosetti
Cristina
C
Talamini
Renato
R
Montella
Maurizio
M
Giacosa
Attilio
A
Franceschi
Silvia
S
Negri
Eva
E
Ferraroni
Monica
M
La Vecchia
Carlo
C
Decarli
Adriano
A
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012306:Risk; D013213:Starch; D014675:Vegetables; D014815:Vitamins
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D014815:Vitamins; D013213:Starch