title: Fruit and vegetable intake among Jordanians: results from a case-control study of colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diets that include fruits and vegetables have been suggested as one way to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the association between consuming fruits and vegetables and CRC risk is not clear. The objective of the present study is to compare fruit and vegetable intake between 2 groups of Jordanians and further investigate this possible relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  A history of fruit and vegetable consumption was obtained from 220 people with CRC and 281 healthy controls, all of whom were from Jordan. Both groups were matched for age, sex, occupation, and marital status. Fruit and vegetable consumption was quantified for the previous 12 months in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total vegetable intake was associated with the risk of developing CRC. Consuming 5 servings of vegetables a day decreased the risk of developing CRC when compared with no more than 1 serving a day (odds ratio [OR] = 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55-0.97). A significant direct relationship between CRC risk and consuming cauliflower and cabbage was found; however, no association was found for raw or cooked leafy vegetable and other vegetable types. Consuming several types of fruits also revealed no association with risk of CRC, although an increased intake of dates and figs was associated with a reduced risk of developing CRC. The ORs for the highest intake of servings compared with the lowest intake were 0.48 (95% CI: 0.27-0.87; P = .004) for dates and 0.604 (95% CI: 0.35-1.06; P = .003) for figs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consuming fruits and vegetables did not significantly correlate with a lowered incidence of CRC. However, a trend of protection was detected for several types of fruits and vegetables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic, Hashemite University, Zarqa 13115, Jordan. rtayyem@hu.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Reema F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Tayyem
authors.forename: Ihab
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shehadah
authors.forename: Suhad S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abu-Mweis
authors.forename: Hiba A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bawadi
authors.forename: Kamal E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bani-Hani
authors.forename: Tareq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Al-Jaberi
authors.forename: Majed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Nusairr
authors.forename: Dennis D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Heath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D014675:Vegetables