HABITUAL INTAKE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AMONGST PATIENTS AT INCREASED RISK OF COLORECTAL NEOPLASIA

We assessed consumption of fruit and vegetables amongst patients with ulcerative colitis, colorectal polyps or previous carcinoma. The dieta ry intakes for 119 patients attending a gastroenterology clinic for co lonoscopy were assessed using a questionnaire. A single age- and sex-m atched control subject was recruited for each patient. The patients co nsumed 12.8% less energy than the controls (P < 0.02) and 28.9% less f ruit and vegetables (P < 0.0001). Patients with neoplastic disease con sumed 21% less fruit and vegetables than the controls (n = 60; P < 0.0 1). This group of patients at increased risk of colorectal cancer sele cted diets containing significantly less fruit and vegetables than sym ptomless controls. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd.