ANI |
Updated: May 22, 2021 15:25 IST
London [UK]May 22 (ANI): Several non-genetic factors, including high red meat intake, lower education, and heavier alcohol use were associated with an increased risk colorectal cancer in people under 50, suggests a new study.
The study’s findings were published by Oxford University Press in a new paper in the Journal of the JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
In the United States, the incidence of early-onset disease colorectal cancer nearly doubled between 1992 and 2013 (from 8.6 to 13.1 per 100,000), with most of this increase due to early-onset rectal cancer. About 1 in 10 diagnoses colorectal cancer in this country occurs in people under the age of 50.
Researchers have observed a particular increase in people born since the 1960s in studies from the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan. During the same period, there have been major changes in the diets of younger generations around the developing world.
These changes include reducing consumption of fruits, vegetables other than potatoes, and calcium-rich dairy sources. This is coupled with an increase in processed foods (e.g. meat, pizza, macaroni and cheese, etc.) and soft drinks. The average nutrient intake including fiber, folate, and calcium in the US population is also lower than recommended.
Initial increase colorectal cancer is of concern to researchers because these cancers often have worse outcomes than those diagnosed in older adults. It has led to recommendations that colorectal cancer Screening begins at a younger age.
Previous research has identified potential risk factors for early-onset disease colorectal cancer including more processed meat consumption, reduced consumption of citrus fruits and vegetables, higher body mass index, sedentary lifestyle, higher alcohol use, smoking, reduced aspirin use and disease diabetes. However, researchers have yet to perform a comprehensive, large-scale assessment to compare the magnitude of these risks with those of late onset. colorectal cancer and assess whether the risks of starting early colorectal cancer correlated with specific types of colorectal cancer.
Using pooled data from 13 population-based studies, the researchers here studied 3,767 colorectal cancer cases and 4,049 controls in people under 50 years old and 23,437 colorectal cancer cases and 35,311 controls in people 50 years of age or older.
Early start colorectal cancer was associated with infrequent aspirin use, high red meat intake, lower educational attainment, heavier alcohol use and (interestingly) also abstaining from alcohol. The researchers also found that a lower total fiber intake was more strongly associated with rectal cancer than colon cancer.
Others colorectal cancer risk factors tend to be associated with early onset colorectal cancer, including a history of diabetes and lower intake of folate, fiber, and calcium. However, neither BMI nor smoking were risk factors in the early-onset group, in contrast to the late-onset group.
According to Richard Hayes, the study’s senior investigator: “the first large-scale study of non-genetic risk factors for early-onset disease colorectal cancer are providing the initial basis for targeting those most at risk, which is essential in mitigating the growing burden of this disease. “(ANI)
