Plasma vitamins B2, B6, and B12, and related genetic variants as predictors of colorectal cancer risk.
BACKGROUND
B-vitamins are essential for one-carbon metabolism and have been linked to colorectal cancer. Although associations with folate have frequently been studied, studies on other plasma vitamins B2, B6, and B12 and colorectal cancer are scarce or inconclusive.


METHODS
We carried out a nested case-control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, including 1,365 incident colorectal cancer cases and 2,319 controls matched for study center, age, and sex. We measured the sum of B2 species riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide, and the sum of B6 species pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid as indicators for vitamin B2 and B6 status, as well as vitamin B12 in plasma samples collected at baseline. In addition, we determined eight polymorphisms related to one-carbon metabolism. Relative risks for colorectal cancer were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusted for smoking, education, physical activity, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and intakes of fiber and red and processed meat.


RESULTS
The relative risks comparing highest to lowest quintile were 0.71 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.56-0.91; P(trend) = 0.02] for vitamin B2, 0.68 (95% CI, 0.53-0.87; P(trend) <0.001) for vitamin B6, and 1.02 (95% CI, 0.80-1.29; P(trend) = 0.19) for vitamin B12. The associations for vitamin B6 were stronger in males who consumed ≥30 g alcohol/day. The polymorphisms were not associated with colorectal cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher plasma concentrations of vitamins B2 and B6 are associated with a lower colorectal cancer risk.


CONCLUSIONS
This European population-based study is the first to indicate that vitamin B2 is inversely associated with colorectal cancer, and is in agreement with previously suggested inverse associations of vitamin B6 with colorectal cancer.
Eussen
Simone J P M
SJ
LOCUS for homocysteine and related vitamins, Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, and Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. Simone.Eussen@farm.uib.no
Vollset
Stein Emil
SE
Hustad
Steinar
S
Midttun
Øivind
Ø
Meyer
Klaus
K
Fredriksen
Ase
A
Ueland
Per Magne
PM
Jenab
Mazda
M
Slimani
Nadia
N
Boffetta
Paolo
P
Overvad
Kim
K
Thorlacius-Ussing
Ole
O
Tjønneland
Anne
A
Olsen
Anja
A
Clavel-Chapelon
Françoise
F
Boutron-Ruault
Marie-Christine
MC
Morois
Sophie
S
Weikert
Cornelia
C
Pischon
Tobias
T
Linseisen
Jakob
J
Kaaks
Rudolf
R
Trichopoulou
Antonia
A
Zilis
Demosthenes
D
Katsoulis
Michael
M
Palli
Domenico
D
Pala
Valeria
V
Vineis
Paolo
P
Tumino
Rosario
R
Panico
Salvatore
S
Peeters
Petra H M
PH
Bueno-de-Mesquita
H Bas
HB
van Duijnhoven
Fränzel J B
FJ
Skeie
Guri
G
Muñoz
Xavier
X
Martínez
Carmen
C
Dorronsoro
Miren
M
Ardanaz
Eva
E
Navarro
Carmen
C
Rodríguez
Laudina
L
VanGuelpen
Bethany
B
Palmqvist
Richard
R
Manjer
Jonas
J
Ericson
Ulrika
U
Bingham
Sheila
S
Khaw
Kay-Tee
KT
Norat
Teresa
T
Riboli
Elio
E
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D012256:Riboflavin
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