The relationship between nut intake and risk of colorectal cancer: a case control study

Abstract

BackgroundNut consumption is known to reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. However, in previous studies, portion sizes and categories of nut consumption have varied, and few studies have assessed the association between colorectal cancer risk and nut consumption. In this study, we investigated the relationship between nut consumption and colorectal cancer risk.MethodsA case-control study was conducted among 923 colorectal cancer patients and 1846 controls recruited from the National Cancer Center in Korea. Information on dietary intake was collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire with 106 items, including peanuts, pine nuts, and almonds (as 1 food item). Nut consumption was categorized as none, < 1 serving per week, 1–3 servings per week, and ≥3 servings per week. A binary logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between nut consumption and colorectal cancer risk, and a polytomous logistic regression model was used for sub-site analyses.ResultsHigh nut consumption was strongly associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer among women (adjusted ORs: 0.30, 95%CI: 0.15–0.60 for the ≥3 servings per week group vs. none). A similar inverse association was observed for men (adjusted ORs: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.17–0.47). In sub-site analyses, adjusted ORs (95% CIs) comparing the ≥3 servings per week group vs none were 0.25 (0.09–0.70) for proximal colon cancer, 0.39 (0.19–0.80) for distal colon cancer, and 0.23 (0.12–0.46) for rectal cancer among men. An inverse association was also found among women for distal colon cancer (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04–0.48) and rectal cancer (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.17–0.95).ConclusionsWe found a statistically significant association between high frequency of nut consumption and reduced risk of colorectal cancer. This association was observed for all sub-sites of the colon and rectum among both men and women, with the exception of proximal colon cancer for women.

Association between nut intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk: a retrospective case-control study in a sample of Chinese Han adults

“…Nuts are nutrient-dense foods with complex matrices rich in unsaturated fatty and other bioactive compounds (eg, high-quality vegetable protein, fibre, minerals, tocopherols, phytosterols and phenolic compounds) 8. The global intake of nuts has increased by 59% over the past decade 9. China’s per capita intake of nuts was 2.2 g/day in 1982, and it increased to 3.8 g/day in 2012 10.…”

Nut and peanut butter intake and the risk of colorectal cancer and its anatomical and molecular subtypes: the Netherlands Cohort Study

“…Differences in study results might be explained by the low case numbers in some studies because of short follow-up periods ( 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 ). Furthermore, few studies investigated rectal cancer ( 9 , 11 , 16–18 , 20 , 23 ) or nut subtypes ( 16 , 17 ) separately, and some combined intake of nuts with other foods, like legumes or pulses ( 9 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 22 ).…”

Dietary intake of polyphenols and risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma–A case-control study from Iran

“…Also, we found that intake of Nuts is related to Western dietary pattern. Lee et al reported that high intake of nut consumption associated with reduced risk of CRC(45), while Yang and colleagues failed to show any relationship between nut intake and risk of CRC (46). It may be due to the Iranian culture.…”