Nutritional Advice El MondoObjectives:
Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed and deadly cancers worldwide. Epidemiological studies on the relationship between folate intake and the risk of colorectal cancer have reported inconsistent findings since folate fortification in the USA. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.
Does a high folate (folic acid) ietary intake reduce risk of colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer)?
Study design:
This review article included 24 cohort studies involving 6,165,894 individuals, of which 37,280 persons with colorectal cancer.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found compared with the lowest dietary intake, the highest folate dietary intake significantly reduced risk of colorectal cancer with 12% [combined relative risk (RR) = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.83 to 0.92, p = 0.0004].
Significantly means that there is an association with a 95% confidence.
The investigators found compared with the lowest dietary intake, the highest folate dietary intake significantly reduced risk of colorectal cancer with 3% among persons witih medium alcohol consumption [RR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.96 to 0.99, p = 0.008].
Significantly because RR of 1 was not found in the 95% CI of 0.96 to 0.99. RR of 1 means no risk/association.
The investigators found compared with the lowest dietary intake, the highest folate dietary intake significantly reduced risk of colorectal cancer with 5% among persons witih high alcohol consumption [RR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92 to 0.97, p = 0.003].
The investigators found compared with the lowest dietary intake, the highest folate dietary intake did not reduce risk of colorectal cancer among non-drinkers [RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.98 to 1.02, p = 0.827].
The investigators found compared with the lowest dietary intake, the highest folate dietary intake significantly reduced risk of colon cancer with 14% [RR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.81 to 0.92, p = 0.0004].
Significantly because the calculated p-value of 0.0004 was less than the p-value of 0.05.
The investigators found compared with the lowest dietary intake, the highest folate dietary intake did not reduce risk of rectal cancer [RR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.02, p = 0.112].
The investigators found compared with the lowest dietary intake, the highest folate dietary intake significantly reduced risk of colorectal cancer in USA and Europe but not in other regions.
The investigators concluded that high folate dietary intake reduces risk of colon cancer, particularly in people with medium or high alcohol consumption, but it still needs to be further confirmed.
Original title:
Folate intake and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and up-to-date meta-analysis of prospective studies by Fu H, He J, […], Chang H.
Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35579178/
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on colorectal cancer and folic acid consumption right here.
Colorectal cancer starts in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start.