Soy food and isoflavone intake and colorectal cancer risk: the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study.
OBJECTIVE
It has been suggested that soy food and isoflavone intake may be protective against the risk of colorectal cancer. However, epidemiologic evidence remains sparse and inconsistent. We addressed this issue in the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study.


METHODS
The study subjects were the 816 incident cases of histologically confirmed colorectal cancer and 815 community controls. Intakes of soy foods and isoflavones were assessed by in-person interview using a computer-assisted dietary method. Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of colorectal cancer with adjustment for dietary intakes of calcium and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as for body mass index, physical activity, alcohol use, and other lifestyle factors.


RESULTS
Energy-adjusted intakes of soy foods (dry weight) and isoflavones were inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk in men and postmenopausal women, but not in premenopausal women. The multivariate-adjusted OR for the highest versus lowest quintile was 0.65 (95% CI 0.41-1.03, p for trend = 0.03) for soy foods and 0.68 (95% CI 0.42-1.10, p for trend = 0.051) for isoflavones in men. The corresponding values for postmenopausal women were 0.60 (95% CI 0.29-1.25, p for trend = 0.053) and 0.68 (95% CI 0.33-1.40, p for trend = 0.049). The site-specific analysis showed inverse associations of soy foods (p for trend = 0.007) and isoflavones (p for trend = 0.02) with rectal cancer in men.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings add to epidemiologic evidence for protective effects of soy foods and isoflavones in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. sanjeev@phealth.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Sanjeev
S
Budhathoki
Amit Man
AM
Joshi
Keizo
K
Ohnaka
Guang
G
Yin
Kengo
K
Toyomura
Suminori
S
Kono
Ryuichi
R
Mibu
Masao
M
Tanaka
Yoshihiro
Y
Kakeji
Yoshihiko
Y
Maehara
Takeshi
T
Okamura
Koji
K
Ikejiri
Kitaroh
K
Futami
Takafumi
T
Maekawa
Yohichi
Y
Yasunami
Kenji
K
Takenaka
Hitoshi
H
Ichimiya
Reiji
R
Terasaka
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012306:Risk; D045730:Soy Foods
D007529:Isoflavones