Title:Is it Possible to Reduce the Incident of Colorectal Cancer by Modifying Diet and Lifestyle?
Volume: 9
Issue: 3
Author(s): Pedro J. Tarraga Lopez, Juan Solera Albero and Jose Antonio Rodriguez-Montes
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Colorectal cancer, COX-2, antioxidants.
Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer in men, after lung and prostate cancer, and is the
second most frequent cancer in women after breast cancer. It is also the third cause of death in men and women separately,
and is the second most frequent cause of death by cancer if both genders are considered together. CRC represents
approximately 10% of deaths by cancer. The incidence of CRC is low up to the age of 45-50 years, but progressively increases
with age, and men are at more risk than women.
Studies done on Japanese immigrants in the USA, Asian Jewish immigrants to Israel and East European immigrants in
Australia have revealed that they acquire the common CRC rates in the country of their adoption. There is no doubt whatsoever
which environmental factors, probably diet [10], may account for these cancer rates. Excessive alcohol consumption
and cholesterol-rich diet are associated with a high risk of colon cancer [11,12]. A diet poor in folic acid and vitamin
B6 is also associated with a higher risk of developing colon cancer with an overexpression of p53 [13]. Eating pulses at
least 3 times a week lowers the risk of developing colon cancer by 33%, after eating less meat, while eating brown rice at
least once a week cuts the risk of CRC by 40%. These associations suggest a dose-response effect. Frequently eating
cooked green vegetables, nuts and dried fruit, pulses and brown rice has been associated with a lower risk of colorectal
polyps [14]. High calcium intake offers a protector effect against distal colon and rectal tumours as compared with the
proximal colon. Higher intake of dairy products and calcium reduces the risk of colon cancer [15]. Taking an aspirin regularly
after being diagnosed with colon cancer is associated with less risk of dying from this cancer, especially among people
who have tumours with COX-2 overexpression [16]. Nonetheless, these data do not contradict the data obtained on a
possible genetic predisposition, even in sporadic or non-hereditary CRC.
Modifiable risk factors of CRC include smoking habit, physical inactivity, being overweight and obesity, eating processed
meat and drinking alcohol excessively [17-19]. CRC screening programmes are possible only in economically developed
countries. However, attention should be paid in the future to those geographical areas with ageing populations and a western
lifestyle [20,21]. Sigmoidscopy screening done with people aged 55-64 years has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence
of CRC by 33% and mortality by CRC by 43%.
