Title
Heme and chlorophyll intake and risk of colorectal cancer in the Netherlands cohort study
Author
Balder, H.F.
de Vogel, J.
Jansen, M.C.J.F.
Weijenberg, M.P.
van den Brandt, P.A.
Westenbrink, S.
van der Meer, R.D.
Goldbohm, R.A.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2006
Abstract
Background: The evidence for red meat as a determinant of colorectal cancer remains equivocal, which might be explained by differences in heme content. Heme is the prooxidant, iron-containing porphyrin pigment of meat and its content depends on the type of meat. Chlorophyll from green vegetables might modify this association. Methods: The Netherlands Cohort Study was initiated in 1986 when a self-administered questionnaire on risk factors for cancer was completed by 120,852 subjects ages 55 to 69 years. After 9.3 years of follow-up through the Cancer Registry, 1,535 incident colorectal cancer cases (869 men and 666 women) were available. Nineteen of the 150 items in the validated dietary questionnaire related to consumption of specific types of fresh and processed meat. Heme iron content was calculated as a type-specific percentage of the total iron content and chlorophyll content of vegetables was derived from the literature. Results: Multivariate rate ratios for quintiles of heme iron intake and colon cancer were 1.00, 0.98, 1.04, 1.13, and 1.29 (Ptrend = 0.10) among men and 1.00, 1.31, 1.44, 1.18, and 1.20 (Ptrend = 0.56) among women, respectively. No consistent associations were observed for rectal cancer. Rate ratios for colon cancer increased across successive quintiles of the ratio of heme/chlorophyll among men only (1.00, 1.08, 1.01, 1.32, and 1.43; Ptrend = 0.01). No associations were observed between fresh meat and colorectal cancer. Conclusion: Our data suggest an elevated risk of colon cancer in men with increasing intake of heme iron and decreasing intake of chlorophyll. Further research is needed to confirm these results. Copyright © 2006 American Association for Cancer Research.
Subject
Health
Food and Chemical Risk Analysis
chlorophyll
heme
adult
aged
article
cancer incidence
cohort analysis
colorectal cancer
female
follow up
human
major clinical study
male
meat
priority journal
questionnaire
Aged
Chlorophyll
Cohort Studies
Colorectal Neoplasms
Female
Food Habits
Heme
Humans
Male
Meat
Middle Aged
Netherlands
Prospective Studies
Rectal Neoplasms
Risk
Vegetables
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8422a06e-1228-4cbc-9cc8-d5fdfcf4ddf9
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.epi-05-0772
TNO identifier
239217
ISSN
1055-9965
Source
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, 15 (4), 717-725
Document type
article