Dietary fiber and colorectal cancer risk

January 01, 0001

Dietary fiber and colorectal cancer risk

These British and Dutch researchers examined whether dietary fiber and whole grains affect the risk of colorectal cancer. They performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using databases and the resultant reference lists for prospective studies.

The researchers found: "25 prospective studies were included in the analysis. The summary relative risk of developing colorectal cancer for 10 g daily of total dietary fibre (16 studies) was 0.90, for fruit fibre (n=9) was 0.93, for vegetable fibre (n=9) was 0.98, for legume fibre (n=4) was 0.62, and for cereal fibre (n=8) was 0.90. The summary relative risk for an increment of three servings daily of whole grains (n=6) was 0.83."

The researchers concluded: "A high intake of dietary fibre, in particular cereal fibre and whole grains, was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Further studies should report more detailed results, including those for subtypes of fibre and be stratified by other risk factors to rule out residual confounding. Further assessment of the impact of measurement errors on the risk estimates is also warranted."

This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests a dose- dependent benefit with dietary fiber on colorectal cancer risk.

For the full abstract, click here.

BMJ 343:d6617, 10 November 2011 © 2011 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
ResearchDietary fibre, whole grains, and risk of colorectal cancer: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Dagfinn Aune, Doris S M Chan, Rosa Lau, et al. Correspondence to D Aune: d.aune@imperial.ac.uk

Category: D. Digestive. Keywords: colorectal, colon, cancer, fiber, cereals, systematic review and meta-analysis, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 29 November 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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