Diet, environmental factors and increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in Nigeria

Abstract

A B S T R A C TColorectal cancer (CRC) in Nigeria used to be a rare disease. However, over the last 40 years it has gradually become a signifi cant health concern. Several publications on this disease from Nigeria have documented an increase in the incidence. To suggest possible and credible pathogenesis for the observed increase in CRC incidence in Nigeria, a search through AJOL, PubMed, and Google Scholar using search items like "colon cancer in Nigeria," "rectal cancer in Nigeria," and "CRC in Nigeria" was carried out. Also, a search for known risk factors in the development of CRC such as diet, carcinogens in red meat, alcohol, and polyposis coli syndromes were also initiated. Factors responsible for the increase in CRC incidence in Nigeria include poor refrigeration facilities resulting from poor electricity services; leading to deep-fried, smoked and charcoal-grilled meat. Other risk factors include an affi nity for consumption of offal, an increase in obesity, proliferation of fast food joints, and an increase in alcohol intake. It is unclear how long and large the factors that cause CRC in a patient will have to be present before developing the disease. A dietary intake of fresh, wholesome, non-processed, preservative and hydrocarbon free foods should be encouraged; while habits such as consumption of alcohol and cigarette smoking are discouraged.

A Rural-Urban Comparison of Knowledge, Risk- Factors and Preventive Practices for Colorectal Cancer among Adults in Lagos State

“…While less than 5% of rural respondents eat diet low in fibre. This finding reflects the attributes associated to urban life that is indicated in their poor food choices and availability of unhealthy food, as explained by (Irabor, 2014) in the study carried out in Nigeria, economic development is an important environmental influence and is related to changes in dietary preferences that result from increased affluence. This reflects in the findings from the current study where more of urban respondents (40%) eat diet high in fat daily compared to 15.18% of rural respondents and one-fourth of urban respondents 73 (24.01%) are overweight compared with one-sixth of rural respondents 49 (16%).…”

“…Ordinarily, we know that the native Nigerian diet consists of a bolus-type high fiber meal, with a vegetable-based stew assisting its swallowing. With globalization and adoption of Western diets, fewer native Nigerians still partake of their native diets as revealed among the urban residents in the study (Irabor, 2012;Irabor, 2014).Ultimately this finding will help in disseminating information on risk factors of CRC.…”

Relationship between plasma calcium and carcinoembryonic antigen among colorectal cancer patients

“…2 This epidemiologic evidence underscores the importance of nutritional and dietary risk factors in the evolution of colorectal carcinogenesis. 20 The role of calcium as a nutritional and dietary risk factor in colorectal carcinogenesis has been well-documented in the literature.…”

“…1 The incidence of the disease is relatively low in Nigeria, however, some authors have recently reported that its incidence is gradually increasing due to the rapid westernization of dietary lifestyle inherent in the country. 2 The influence of genetic, hereditary, environmental, and nutritional factors have all been suggested to increase the risk of colorectal cancer incidence globally. [2][3][4][5] Among the suggested nutritional factors is the influence of low plasma calcium in the evolution and progression of the disease.…”

“…2 The influence of genetic, hereditary, environmental, and nutritional factors have all been suggested to increase the risk of colorectal cancer incidence globally. [2][3][4][5] Among the suggested nutritional factors is the influence of low plasma calcium in the evolution and progression of the disease. [6][7][8] This postulation of low plasma calcium influence on colorectal cancer incidence stem from numerous observational and experimental studies implicating low level of the mineral as a culprit in colorectal carcinogenesis.…”