title: Garlic consumption and colorectal cancer risk in man: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer shows large incidence variations worldwide that have been attributed to different dietary factors. We conducted a meta-analysis on the relationship between garlic consumption and colorectal cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically reviewed publications obtained by searching ISI Web of Knowledge, MEDLINE and EMBASE literature databases. We extracted the risk estimate of the highest and the lowest reported categories of intake from each study and conducted meta-analysis using a random-effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pooled analysis of all fourteen studies, seven cohort and seven case-control, indicated that garlic consumption was not associated with colorectal cancer risk (OR=0·93; 95 % CI 0·82, 1·06, P=0·281; I 2=83·6 %, P≤0·001). Separate analyses on the basis of cancer sites and sex also revealed no statistically significant effects on cancer risk. However, when separately analysed on the basis of study type, we found that garlic was associated with an approximately 37 % reduction in colorectal cancer risk in the case-control studies (combined risk estimate=0·63, 95 % CI 0·48, 0·82, P=0·001; I 2=75·6 %, P≤0·001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that consumption of garlic is not associated with a reduced colorectal cancer risk. Further investigations are necessary to clarify the discrepancy between results obtained from different types of epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Experimental Medicine,Section of Public Heath,University of Perugia,Perugia,Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiavarini
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Experimental Medicine,Section of Public Heath,University of Perugia,Perugia,Italy.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Chemistry,Biology and Biotechnology,University of Perugia,Via del Giochetto,06126 Perugia,Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fabiani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005737:Garlic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Colorectal cancer; Garlic; Meta-analysis