High dietary fiber intake, particularly cereals and whole grains, reduces risk of colorectal cancer
FRIDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- High intake of dietary fibers, in particular cereals and whole grains, is associated with a small reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a meta-analysis published online Nov. 10 in the BMJ.
Dagfinn Aune, from Imperial College London, and colleagues investigated the association between intake of dietary fibers and whole grains and colorectal cancer risk through a systematic review and meta-analysis of databases up to December 2010. The analysis included 25 prospective studies.
The investigators found that the summary relative risk for developing colorectal cancer associated with 10 g daily consumption of different types of fibers was significant for total dietary fibers and cereal fibers (0.90 for each). For fruit fibers, vegetable fibers, and legume fibers, the summary relative risks were not significant. An increase in whole grain intake to three servings per day (six studies) was associated with a significant summary relative risk of 0.83 for colorectal cancer.
"Intakes of dietary fiber, cereal fiber, and whole grains are associated with linear decreases in the risk of colorectal cancer," the authors write. "Evidence of an association between intake of fruit, vegetable, or legume fiber and risk of colorectal cancer was lacking."
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)